Ten killed in Aizawl landslide,7 trapped

The landslide occurred around 3 am at Aizawl's Laipuitlang neighborhood

A massive landslide in the heart of Mizorams capital killed 10 people on Saturday. At least seven others remained buried underneath the rubble as heavy rainfall temporarily halted rescue work in the evening.

The landslide occurred around 3 am at Aizawls Laipuitlang neighborhood and adjoining Ramhlun Venglai neighborhood,which lies downhill,during heavy rainfall,sweeping away or severely damaging 11 houses perched on the eastward-facing hillside on one of the citys tallest hills. Rain has been lashing most parts of the state for about a week.

By noon,five people had been pulled out alive after relatives and neighbours located them in the rubble after contacting them on cellphones. At 1.55 pm,a 22-year-old woman named Lalrinzuali was the last to be pulled out alive from the rubble,evoking applause from the hundreds who had gathered from across the city and neighbouring towns to volunteer in rescue work.

In less than 15 minutes,however,the make-shift information unit set up by the Young Mizo Association,the states largest voluntary organisation,announced that the woman had died soon after she was taken out.

Lalrinzualis mother Laduhsaki,37,and her younger sister Melanie,13,also died in the landslide. Her father Vanlalhmuaka the chowkidar of a local churchs hall that was also swept away by the landslide escaped with two of his other children.

The YMA said most of those buried were students or young people from outside the city who lived in rented accommodation. Only three of those who died were locals.

Besides the hall and nine other houses,an abandoned residential quarters of the state Public Works Department was among those swept away by the landslide. The quarters,built of concrete,stood at the top of the hillside that collapsed.

Story continues below this ad

Locals and some officials said it had been evacuated more than a year ago and was slated to be demolished as cracks had formed near it even then. Many blamed it as one of the reasons behind the tragedy.

A high-ranking official in the district administration said an inquiry will be conducted to find out why the demolition,which had already been formally ordered,was delayed. He declined to be named.

Officials expressed little hope of finding the seven who remained trapped underneath since rescue workers and volunteers had searched most of the areas accessible by pick-axes and shovels,but rescue workers said they would press on into the night.

Aizawl Deputy Commissioner Frankin Laltinkhuma said relief packages for the affected families may be inadequate since the state and national disaster relief funds offer compensation for damaged houses but do not cover the loss of entire landholdings and residential plots.