Rescue and relief work underway after a landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, in Aizawl
Credit: PTI Photo
Guwahati: Multi-storied houses collapsing due to landslips, debris blocking roads and rocks falling down the hills smashing cars. These were some of the scary scenes in Mizoram capital Aizawl and elsewhere as heavy rains that plundered the hill state between May 30 and June 1.
The life in the tiny hilly Mizoram, with just 11 lakh population, has literally come to a standstill as the state witnessed over 550 landslides since May 24 resulting in death of five persons, destruction of over 140 houses and blackage on more than 200 roads.
As the fear of further landslides hung in the air, the administration in Aizawl kept the schools shut for students for the fourth day on Tuesday while the state government issued an advisory asking outside dignitaries to postpone their visit to the state in view of the nature's fury.
Serchip, a district situated in the east, was worse affected with most of the landslides keeping normal life severely paralysed while the situation in Aizawal was not good. Three deaths were reported in Champhai while Aizawl and Serchip saw one death each.
As the precipitation patterns are changing owing to climate change impact, the problem of landslides is growing in the hilly state.
Credit: DH Photo
Sudheer Kumar Dwivedi, director of IMD Mizoram told DH on Tuesday that between May 30 and June 1, the state witnessed average of 149mm rainfall with Serchip witnessing 255mm followed by Aizawl (252.2mm). "The synoptic conditions suggests moderate to heavy rains tomorrow. But the present observation suggests improvement in the weater condition soon," he said.
Growing problem:
As the precipitation patterns are changing owing to climate change impact, the problem of landslides is growing in the hilly state. More than 32 people had died in several landslides, mostly in Aizawl, last year and even forced the administration to shut schools for days out of safety fears.
Experts blamed haphazard cutting of hills, constructions and non-adherence to slope management for the growing problem. "The problem started increasing since 2017 and situation is turning worse every year," Laldinpuia, an associate professor at the Centre for Disaster Management, Mizoram University, told DH on Tuesday. "The hills of Mizoram is geologically young and so heavy rains softens the soil. Cutting of the hills and non-compliance of the norms is aggravating the situation, not only in Aizawl but in other districts as well," he said while urging the agencies to enforce the safety norms for hill cutting, slope manageemnt and constructions.