2 dead, 8-year-old missing after heavy rains, landslide cause building collapse in Mizoram

Two people died and an eight-year-old boy went missing after three building blocks in Durtlang Leitan near Aizawl in Mizoram were destroyed in landslide on Tuesday evening.

The massive landslide was triggered by heavy rainfall in Durtlang Leitan, which is located about 5 km from Aizawl city centre.

Emergency rescue operations were conducted by Disaster Management and Rehabilitation team to trace the missing boy.

A basic service to urban poor (BSUP) housing complex, which was home to many below poverty line (BPL) families, collapsed after which eight people were rescued, while two were killed.

Local authorities confirmed the death of two people. However, their bodies have not been recovered.

The authorities, as well as residents, are uncertain of the number of missing persons.

The complex consists of 20 buildings and a community hall. Residents claimed that the cement work done at the time of construction of the buildings was not good enough and that it could have been easily crumbled with bare hands.

(With inputs from Hemanta Kumar Nath in Guwahati and Lalhmingmawia Renthlei in Mizoram)