Heavy monsoon rains trigger landslides and cut Shillong-Dawki road in Meghalaya

Heavy monsoon rain has triggered landslides across parts of Northeast India, with Meghalaya among the worst affected areas. In the state, a major landslide has completely cut the Shillong-Dawki road, a key route linking the capital Shillong with Dawki near the Bangladesh border. Authorities have closed the road from the landslide site onwards until further notice.

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Officials said the closure follows severe rainfall recorded on Sunday at several stations in East Khasi Hills. The IMD station at Mawsynram registered 526.5 mm, while RKM Sohra recorded 470.4 mm and Mawkywrat 385 mm. The Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills said repair and restoration work is likely to take a few days, and commuters have been advised to avoid the route and use alternate roads through Sohra and Dawki.

The disruption is significant because the Shillong-Dawki road serves both local travel and access to a major tourist destination. The weather office has forecast moderate rain across most parts of Meghalaya over the next four days, with thunderstorms and heavy rain at isolated places. It has also warned of waterlogging in low-lying areas, severe disruption on major travel routes and longer-term disruption to municipal services.

The impact is not limited to Meghalaya. Landslides have also been reported in Assam's Dima Hasao district and Manipur's Senapati district, adding to travel disruption across the region. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Assam has issued a special weather bulletin warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several parts of the Northeast until June 24.

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In Assam, monsoon flooding has also begun in North Assam, where the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said 10,609 people had been affected in Dhemaji district by Sunday night. The situation highlights the vulnerability of the Northeast during the monsoon season, when steep terrain and intense rainfall can quickly cut off roads and isolate communities. Meghalaya's hill districts are particularly exposed to landslides, while flood-prone areas in Assam face a different but related seasonal risk.

The combination of landslides, road closures and flooding can complicate emergency response, tourism and the movement of goods and people across state borders. What remains unclear is how quickly the Shillong-Dawki road can be restored and whether further landslides will be reported as rain continues. Authorities have warned of more heavy rain and waterlogging, so travel conditions may worsen before they improve.

The next developments to watch are the pace of repair work, any additional road closures and whether the weather warning leads to further disruption in Meghalaya, Assam and Manipur.

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