Mizoram govt urges tourists to defer travel as heavy rain causes inundation, landslides

Aizawl, Jul 13 (PTI) Incessant rainfall has caused inundation and landslides in several districts of Mizoram, prompting the Lalduhoma government to urge tourists to postpone their visits to the state over public safety concerns, officials said on Monday. At least 100 families have so far been evacuated in Tlabung town and neighbouring areas in south Mizoram's Lunglei district near the Bangladesh border due to the overflowing of the Khawthlangtuipui river, they said. Around 200 travellers remained stranded at Bualte village in Lunglei due to a massive landslide on the National Highway 54 that links Lawngtlai and Siaha districts, they said. Although earth-moving machinery has been used to clear debris, continuous rainfall has repeatedly caused fresh mudslides, the officials said. In an advisory, the tourism department appealed to visitors from outside the state to avoid travelling to Mizoram until weather conditions improve. It also requested those who have already made travel plans to reschedule their trips, warning that continued adverse weather could lead to further disruptions and pose serious risks to travellers. The advisory follows days of continuous rainfall that has caused damage in different parts of the state, with overflowing rivers, landslides and infrastructure damage reported from several locations. On July 10 night, when the rain briefly stopped, the authorities managed to partially clear the debris on roads and allow several vehicles to pass. However, fresh rainfall blocked the road again, and works were underway to ensure vehicular movement, the officials said. The debris of a massive landslide or rockfall at Ngaizel on the southern outskirts of Aizawl that occurred early last week is yet to be cleared, continuing to block the Aizawl-Thenzawl-Lunglei highway, the police said. Water from the swollen Mat river has also submerged several farmlands in Serchhip district, the officials said. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Aizawl Centre, Serchhip recorded the highest rainfall in the last 24 hours at 34 mm, followed by Khawzawl at 17.5 mm and Siaha at 16.5 mm. Aizawl recorded 8.4 mm and Lunglei experienced 14 mm rainfall during the same period, it said. PTI CORR BDC