Severe monsoon rains have triggered deadly floods and landslides across India’s northeastern states, killing at least 48 people and displacing thousands, officials said on Wednesday. Relentless rainfall over the past week has left homes submerged and caused widespread damage to infrastructure, farmland, and communities.

Multiple districts in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Tripura have been severely affected. Rescue and relief efforts are underway, with armed forces and disaster response teams deployed to the hardest-hit areas. Thousands of residents have been evacuated and are currently being sheltered in relief camps.

In Arunachal Pradesh, at least 11 people have died, and two are missing, after massive landslides triggered by the heavy rainfall. State officials said 23 districts and 156 villages, affecting more than 900 people, have been impacted.

In neighboring Assam, authorities reported a total of 17 deaths, including six fresh fatalities in the past 24 hours. At least 1,489 villages and more than 617,000 people have been affected by the ongoing floods.

In Sikkim, the Indian army has been conducting intensive search and rescue operations following a devastating landslide in the northern region. “Search efforts continue for six missing individuals. Despite unstable ground and high-altitude challenges, specialized teams and equipment are on the ground. The Army stands resolute: every life matters, and every effort continues,” the Army said in a statement. Two soldiers and one porter have been killed in the landslides.

Officials in other northeastern states have also reported casualties and damage in recent days. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with state authorities on Tuesday, assuring them of federal support for all affected regions.

The monsoon season, crucial for agriculture in South Asia, often brings life-threatening flooding and landslides, particularly in regions with fragile infrastructure and mountainous terrain. Scientists have warned that climate change is intensifying extreme weather patterns, making these disasters more frequent and severe.