Cyclone Remal: 25 dead, several missing as rain, landslides wreak havoc in Mizoram

At least 25 people including 14 in a stone quarry collapse were killed in Mizoram on Tuesday due to landslides and incessant rain in the aftermath of cyclone Remal state disaster management authority said reported PTISeveral other people went missing in landslides mostly in the state capital region which was cut off from the rest of the country for several hours during the day and bore the brunt of the natural calamitiesIn a massive landslide at least 14 people including two minors were killed and around eight others were missing as a stone quarry collapsed in Aizawl district the Mizoram State Disaster Management Authority MSDMA said reported PTIFour persons were also killed and 18 others injured in separate incidents in Assam on Tuesday as heavy rain accompanied by strong wind lashed the state in the aftermath of the Cyclone RemalIn Nagaland four deaths and damage to more than 40 houses were reported while two persons died and over 500 others were injured as downpours wreaked havoc in Meghalaya reported PTIThe stone quarry collapse incident in Mizoram happened around 6 am in an area between Melthum and Hlimen on the southern outskirts of the Aizawl town an official saidThe MSDMA stated that several houses and worker camps caved in due to the landslide burying at least 22 people beneath the debrisSo far 14 bodies have been recovered and around eight people are still missing it saidAmong the deceased in the stone quarry collapse are a fouryearold boy and a sixyearold girl a police officer said reported PTIAizawls Deputy Commissioner Nazuk Kumar told PTI that the search operations will continue till the entire site is clearedThe abandoned stone quarry was not functional for the last three decades Houses near the quarry collapsed Mizoram Director General of Police Anil Shukla told PTIThose involved in the rescue operations are facing difficulties during the night We are still searching for survivors the DGP said adding that heavy rain was affecting the operations reported PTIShukla said the raintriggered landslides at various places in Mizoram were reported and several other persons have been swept awayWe have rescued two persons alive from the stone quarry site he added reported PTIAt nearby Hlimen of Aizawl district at least five people died and four others are still missing when several houses collapsed in a landslide the MSDMA said reported PTIA building in Aizawls Salem Veng caved in due to a landslide following which three persons went missing and their bodies were recovered later an official saidThe MSDMA said that one person each died in Falkawn Lungsei and Kelsih of Aizawl district when landslides buried their housesIt also stated that eight members of a family inside a house were swept away by a heavy landslide at Chawnpui of Aizawl districtThe state capital was cut off for the whole day from the rest of the country due to landslides on National Highway6 at Hunthar and NH54 at Bungbangla The road blockages were cleared in the evening and the traffic movement was restored the officials said reported PTIAccording to the India Meteorological Departments regional centre in Guwahati light to moderate rain is very likely to occur at most places over Mizoram on Wednesday while thunderstorms and lightning with gusty wind reaching up to 3040 kmph speed are very likely to occur at isolated places in the hill state reported PTIThe Mizoram government ordered the closure of all offices and PSU units on Wednesday in view of the weather warning issued by the IMD except those departments involved with disaster management and essential services reported PTIChief Minister Lalduhoma convened an emergency meeting with Home Minister K Sapdanga Chief Secretary Renu Sharma and other senior officials to take stock of the situation a senior official saidThe CM announced Rs 4 lakh ex gratia for the families of those killed in the stone quarry collapse and calamities caused by rainSapdanga handed over cheques of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the eight Mizo people who died in the quarry collapse and said the remaining amount would be given to them soon reported PTIThe identities of the four nontribal people are being verified If they are permanent residents of Mizoram they will be given the ex gratia If they came here temporarily to work then they will not get any financial support he told PTILalduhoma said the government earmarked Rs 15 crore to tackle disasters triggered by rain which occurred as an aftereffect of cyclone RemalLater Lalduhoma along with Sapdanga who is also in charge of the Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department visited the stone quarry site to take stock of the situation and oversee the rescue operations reported PTIIn Mamit districts Dapchhuah a Myanmar refugee camp and some crop areas were submerged due to heavy rainfall the MSDMA saidBecause of the incessant rain all schools were closed during the day and government employees except those involved in providing essential services were asked to work from homeMeanwhile more than 50 families were shifted to safer places when their houses submerged due to the overflowing of the Tlawng river at Sairang village about 21 km from Aizawl said the Aizawl DC reported PTIAround 150 houses have been destroyed dozens of trees and electric poles were uprooted several roads were blocked and over 50 dwelling units were submerged across Mizoram in a trail of destruction left by the aftereffect of cyclone RemalWith inputs from PTI