At least 15 people have been killed in multiple landslides across Aizawl on Tuesday, including 11 in a stone quarry collapse, as Mizoram experiences storms caused by Cyclone Remal.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma informed The Indian Express that the confirmed death toll as of 11:15 am stood at 15. Among these, 11 bodies were recovered from the site of a landslide in a stone quarry between Melthum and Hlimen in Aizawl district. More bodies are believed to be trapped in the debris, according to Lalduhoma.
Two additional bodies were recovered from the site of another landslide, and one more body was found at a third location.
“We have sanctioned an amount of Rs 15 crore for relief work, and today itself, we will extend assistance to the relatives of the deceased. The storm is subsiding now, but the signal is very poor in many parts of the state, making it difficult to gather information and respond,” said Lalduhoma. The state government has also approved Rs 4 lakh as ex-gratia payment for the families of the deceased.
Due to the severe weather conditions, the state government has ordered the closure of all schools, banks, financial institutions, public sector undertakings, and government offices, except those providing essential services. Private sector offices are advised to implement a ‘work from home’ policy where possible.
In addition to Mizoram, other northeastern states, such as Assam and Meghalaya, are also experiencing storms on Tuesday. Road connectivity between Assam’s Haflong and Silchar has been completely disrupted, with a portion of the road washed away in the storm.