Aizawl
Hundreds of families in southern Mizoram’s Lunglei district have been rendered homeless as the raging waters of Khawthlangtuipui river (Karnaphuli river) and its tributaries submerged nearly 400 houses, officials said on Sunday.
In Tlabung town near the Indo-Bangladesh border, at least 150 houses have been inundated while in Serhuan village all the 122 houses were marooned. In Tiperaghat village, 120 houses were submerged due to the incessant rains that have continued for the seven days.
Officials said a total of eight villages along the river are affected by the floods, but no detailed information could be obtained from those villages as communication lines have been badly affected.
Lunglei and the other southern districts of Lawngtlai and Saiha remained cut off from the rest of the country due to roadblocks as incessant heavy rains triggered landslides, an official of the State Public Works department said.
In Kamalanagar, the headquarters of Chakma Autonomous District Council, more than fifty houses were submerged and hundreds of families evacuated.
“The water level is still increasing as the rain continues. If it continues for the next few days, thousands of people may be affected due to the flood.”
Two men have lost their lives due to the flood. A man collecting crabs in the jungle near south Mizoram’s Lunglei town also drowned on Thursday.
Heavy rainfall in Mizoram since last Monday wreaked havoc and caused large scale destruction on public infrastructure and private properties in different parts of the State. Three persons died due to flood in different parts of Mizoram in the past few days.
Serchip MLA Lalduhoma on Saturday visited the affected areas to take stock of the situation. Officials of State Disaster Management and Rehabilitation department said that Mamit town in Mizoram western belt bordering Tripura has been cut-off from rest of the State due to landslides near Dapchhuah village on National Highway 44 (A). The State PWD was working to clear the road, they said.
Sources said that a five-year-old girl Lalengmawii was swept away by flash floods at Kawlchaw “W” village in south Mizoram Lawngtlai district on Saturday. Her body was recovered on Sunday afternoon.
Heavy downpour also triggered landslides in Aizawl and other towns disrupting internal roads. The State capital also faced frequent power cut due to heavy rain. Water supply has also been disrupted in Aizawl due to swelling of Tlawng river.
