The toll from the floods in Assam rose to 44 after two minor siblings were buried alive in a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in the state’s Goalpara town on Thursday, NDTV reported. Their bodies were recovered by the State Disaster Response Force.

The siblings were identified as Hussain Ali, 11, and eight-year-old Asma Khatoon, reported PTI.

Incessant rains have hit several parts of Assam since Monday night. Four construction workers had also died due to a landslide in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Three persons sustained injuries in Guwahati’s Noonmati area after multiple landslides hit the region, PTI reported.

At least 18 districts in Assam are witnessing heavy showers, PTI reported. Nearly 75,000 residents living in these districts are affected by the floods. A road leading to Nizarapur, where Bharat Ratna awardee Dr Bhupen Hazarika lives, was being cleared by the authorities after debris piled up.

According to the India Meteorological Department, the state, along with Meghalaya, has received 125% above normal rainfall in the last seven days until Wednesday.

Eight out of 35 districts in Assam are flooded due to the rising water levels in the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries since the heavy downpour, according to the state Disaster Management Authority.

On Wednesday, district officials in Hojai and Dima Hasao told Scroll.in that excess water was released from the 275-megawatt Kopili Hydro Electric Project situated on the Khandong Dam.

The district officials said that the excess water from the dam will increase the water levels of the Kopili and Brahmaputra rivers. This would then impact the water flow downstream to Hojai and Dima Hasao, they added.

Dima Hasao Deputy Commissioner Nazreen Ahmed has issued an advisory restricting the movement of citizens in public places and urged those living in vulnerable locations to shift to relief camps.

The Kamrup Metropolitan district administration had also advised citizens to only step out for emergencies or essentials.

Educational institutions in lower Assam districts have been issued directives by the deputy commissioners to cancel classes till Saturday.

The Regional Meteorological Centre warned of heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall in Assam and Meghalaya, reported PTI.

A red alert is issued for Assam and Meghalaya on Thursday, urging authorities to swing into action. An orange alert is issued on Friday and Saturday for the two states, warning the authorities to be prepared to tackle intense rainfall.

NH 06 damaged

In Meghalaya, a part of the National Highway 6, or NH 06, under the Lumshnong Police Station area was washed away due to landslides, according to NDTV. The highway connects Southern Assam, Mizoram, Tripura and parts of Manipur to the rest of the country.

District Disaster Management Authority officials said vehicular movement along the highway has been disrupted.

“Efforts are on to clear the blocked route and necessary assistance is being provided to stranded passengers,” the officials said, according to NDTV.