Mizoram faces worst floods in 50 years, hundreds homeless

Nature's fury has claimed ten lives in Mizoram and rendered many homeless in the entire Northeast.

People are losing their homes, their possessions and all they hold dear, as a sudden natural occurrence the likes of which has not been seen for over half-a-century sweeps the Northeast.

In a statewide tragedy reminiscent of a similar natural disaster which occurred in Uttarakhand in the not-so-distant past, conditions are unbelievably bad for the people of the region.

The catastrophe in the form of flash floods caused by the onset of the monsoon has left thousands homeless.

Approximately 350 houses have been completely submerged by the floods and 8 people have been pronounced dead, with that number expected to



rise.

The rains have caused extensive damage in many districts across the state, with the incessant rain being the cause of landslides and mudslides. This is the largest recorded flooding of the region's Tlawng River in the last 50 years.

In the aftermath of a landslide in Saron Veng, Aizwal, the President of a local NGO, Young Mizo Association, Dr. C Lalchandanna commented, "The main cause of the landslide could be due to over saturation of the soil caused by improper drainage system. Over a hundred families from 96 houses have been evacuated in the area as the grounds are no longer stable. These people have been taken to families and neighboring houses and have also been shifted to community halls and church halls where YMA provided food".