Mizoram: Death toll in Aizawl landslides reaches 30

Aizawl: One more body was recovered on Tuesday, taking the death toll in multiple landslides in Mizoram's capital region Aizawl to 30, a police officer said.

The body of an 11-year-old girl was recovered from the debris of a landslide in the Melthum area by rescue teams, he said.

He said that four people, including a six-month-old infant, are believed to be still missing.

At least 16 people died when several houses and worker camps caved in due to the impact of a massive landslide at an abandoned stone quarry in the border area of Melthum and Hlimen on Tuesday morning.

In Hlimen, six people died when a landslide swept away two houses and another three died at Aizawl’s Salem veng locality due to a landslide.

Two persons died due to a landslide at Falkawn village about 15 km from Aizawl and one each died in Kelsih and Lungsei villages in Aizawl district in landslides.

Officials said that search operations are still being carried out in two landslide-hit areas at Melthum and Aibawk villages by government rescue teams and some local volunteers.

Earlier on Monday, the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) had called off search operations by YMA volunteers as per Mizo customary practice.

Meanwhile, sources said that a dead body, suspected to be a victim of landslides, was fished out from Tlawng River near Lungleng village in Aizawl district on Tuesday.

According to Mizo customary practice, a missing person is searched by volunteers for seven days after which the operation has to be called off.

The identity of the victim is yet to be ascertained, it said.