May 29th 2024.
Aizawl, the capital city of Mizoram, was struck by a devastating natural disaster caused by incessant rainfall. The aftermath of the disaster was grim, with 25 bodies being recovered from debris caused by massive landslides. With many people still missing, rescue operations were underway to locate and save them.
The Mizoram State Disaster Management Authority (MSDMA) released a morning bulletin stating that rescue operations had been going on since the early hours of the day. The search was concentrated in various locations, including an abandoned stone quarry where multiple houses had collapsed due to landslides.
The state capital region bore the brunt of the calamity, with most of the missing people being from there. The city was cut off from the rest of the country for several hours due to the destruction caused by the landslides.
The deadliest of the landslides occurred in an area between Melthum and Hlimen, where at least 14 people, including two minors, lost their lives. The MSDMA reported that 25 personnel from the 3rd MAP, 22 personnel from the 1st MAP, and 10 personnel from the 5th IR battalion had been deployed for rescue operations in the area.
The impact of the landslide caused multiple houses and worker camps to cave in, trapping 22 people under the debris. Among the deceased were a four-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl. The weather, which had been a cause for concern, remained favorable for the search and rescue operations, with no rain since morning.
Aizawl's Deputy Commissioner, Nazuk Kumar, stated that the search would continue until the entire site was cleared. In nearby Hlimen, the authorities continued their efforts to find the five people who were still missing.
The morning bulletin also reported other tragic incidents, including a building collapse in Salem Veng, where three people went missing and were later found dead, and multiple deaths caused by landslides in Falkawn, Lungsei, and Kelsih.
The MSDMA also reported that a family of eight was swept away by a landslide in Chawnpui. The state capital was cut off from the rest of the country for the entire day due to landslides on National Highway-6 and NH-54, but the road blockades were cleared in the evening, allowing the resumption of traffic.
The landslides had also caused damage to cemeteries, with over 200 graves being destroyed in Republic Veng, Kanan Veng, and Kulikawn. The India Meteorological Department's regional centre in Guwahati issued a weather warning for Mizoram, predicting light to moderate rain and thunderstorms with gusty winds in isolated areas.
In light of the inclement weather warning, the Mizoram government ordered the closure of all offices and PSU units, except those involved in disaster management and essential services. Private sector entities were also advised to adopt a "work from home" mode as much as possible.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives in the stone quarry collapse and other rain-related calamities. The government has also allocated Rs 15 crore to deal with the aftermath of the disaster, which was caused by the aftereffect of cyclone 'Remal.'
The destruction caused by the landslides and heavy rainfall was extensive, with over 150 houses destroyed, trees and electric poles uprooted, roads blocked, and many dwellings submerged. The state authorities are working tirelessly to provide aid and relief to those affected by the disaster.
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