Five dead in Guwahati landslides as rain batters city, triggers fear of more collapses

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 31, 2025

At least five people, including two children, have died in separate landslide incidents across Guwahati in the last 48 hours, as relentless rainfall continues to wreak havoc in the city.

The most devastating of the tragedies occurred in Bonda on May 30 at around 3:30 p.m., when a guard wall collapsed next to a home, burying a woman and her two young children under debris. “They were trapped when the wall gave way. All three were rushed to GMCH but were declared dead on arrival,” said an official from the Kamrup Metro District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

Two more fatalities were reported in similar incidents — one in Fatasil Ambari and another in Maligaon — where landslides swept through hillside settlements. Locals say the threat of collapse looms in many areas where homes are perched dangerously close to unstable slopes.

The situation has been worsened by widespread power outages and damaged infrastructure. Continuous rainfall since May 29 has left several roads submerged, houses flooded, and basic services disrupted. Rescue workers are struggling through mud, debris, and risky terrain to reach affected families.

As of Saturday morning, the Brahmaputra’s water level in Guwahati had risen to 45.9 metres, inching toward the warning level of 48.6 metres. The official danger mark is 49.68 metres.

With the monsoon season barely underway, residents fear that more such disasters may follow if urgent measures aren’t taken to stabilize vulnerable slopes and improve drainage infrastructure.