At least 15 people have died in multiple landslides across Aizawl on Tuesday, including 11 victims of a stone quarry collapse, as Mizoram faces storms triggered by Cyclone Remal. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma confirmed the death toll to 15 as of on Tuesday 11:15 am, with ongoing efforts to recover more bodies trapped in the debris.
The stone quarry collapse between Aizawl district’s Melthum and Hlimen accounted for 11 of the fatalities. Two additional bodies were recovered from another landslide site, while a third site yielded one more body. Rescue operations are hampered by poor signal and challenging weather conditions, but relief efforts are underway.
"We have sanctioned Rs 15 crore for relief work and will extend assistance to the relatives of the deceased today. The storm is subsiding, but communication remains difficult in many parts of the state," said Chief Minister Lalduhoma. The state government has also approved Rs 4 lakh as ex-gratia payment for the families of those deceased.
The impact of Cyclone Remal extends beyond Mizoram, with other northeastern states such as Assam and Meghalaya also experiencing storms. Road connectivity between Assam’s Haflong and Silchar has been severely disrupted, with portions of the road washed away by the storm.
In response to the adverse weather conditions, the Mizoram 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 have been advised to implement 'work from home' arrangements where possible.