Death Toll In Mizoram Landslides Rises To 29
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Aizawl
- May 29, 2024
- 141
Four more bodies has been recovered from different places following landslides in Mizoram's Aizawl district, taking the death toll to 29.
Seven people are still missing, with rescue workers believing that some people are trapped under debris at different places following landslides and incessant rains following Cyclone Remal on Tuesday.
After the landslide in Mizoram, 25 bodies were recovered on the night of 28th May.
Out of these, 14 bodies have been recovered from the site of the stone quarry collapse. Aizawl Superintendent of Police Rahul Alwal said that since late Tuesday night, four more bodies have been recovered from the site of the stone quarry collapse in Methum.
After this, the number of people who died due to the landslide here has increased to 15. At the same time, the number of people who died in Hilimen has increased to five.
Police officials said that three bodies were found in Salem Veng area of Aizawl on Tuesday. Two bodies were found each in Falcon and Aibok villages and one body each was found in Lungsei and Kelsih villages.
Superintendent of Police Rahul Alwal said that out of the 29 victims, 23 are residents of Mizoram. Out of these, 5 people are residents of Jharkhand, one is from Silchar city of Assam.
The dead include a four-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl. Aizawl Deputy Commissioner Najuk Kumar said search and rescue operations were still underway. He said all the missing persons were being traced. Graveyards at Republic Veng, Kanan Veng and Kulikon in Aizawl city were also damaged by landslides.
Officials said more than 150 houses were destroyed in the rain and landslides. Dozens of trees and electric poles were uprooted. Several roads were blocked and more than 50 housing units were also submerged in Mizoram.
The Superintendent of Police said that teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police and fire department have been deployed for the search and rescue operation.
Traffic in capital Aizawl was affected for several hours due to a landslide on National Highway-6 at Hunthar in the western part of the city on Tuesday.
Officials said that the traffic movement was restored in the evening after removing the road blockage.
Officials said that there was no rain in Aizawl since Wednesday morning. In view of the IMD issuing a warning of bad weather, the Mizoram government on Wednesday ordered closure of all offices and PSU units except departments related to disaster management and essential services.
At the same time, Commissioner and Secretary of General Administration Department K Lalthawmawia, in an order, advised private sector offices to 'work from home'.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhawma announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the families of those killed in the disasters. He said that his government has set aside Rs 15 crore to deal with the disaster.