Assam: Landslides kill 20 in Barak Valley

At least 20 persons were killed, including children, and several others injured in a series of rain-induced landslides that took place in three districts of southern Assam’s Barak Valley—Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi—on Tuesday morning.

The incidents come on the heels of damaging floods, which have affected the state during the past week.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal tweeted that he was “deeply anguished at the loss of lives due to landslides triggered by incessant rain in Barak valley”. The government has dispatched teams for rescue and relief operations to the spots.

As per officials at the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, Cachar district has reported 7 deaths (4 children, 3 adults) in the Lakhipur revenue circle, Karimganj district has reported 6 deaths (3 children, 3 adults) in the Nilambazar Revenue Circle and Hailakandi district has reported 7 deaths (5 adults, 2 children) in the Hailakandi revenue circle.

CM Sonowal wrote further in his tweet: “I have directed Cachar, Hailakandi & Karimganj district administrations and SDRF to step up rescue, relief operations and facilitate all possible help needed to those affected.”

“Most of the houses were make-shift and located near a hillock. We have been witnessing continuous rainfall in the last 3-4 days but last night it was particularly heavy,” said a district official from Hailakandi, adding that the victims belonged to two families.

“Disaster management personnel are now on the spot,” he said.

In Cachar district too, the houses were located under a hillock. “The rains caused the soil to loosen and resulted in landslides which destroyed the houses,” said an official from Cachar district, who wished to remain anonymous. “We had a record-breaking 150 mm of rainfall last night — it was unprecedented.”

Incessant rainfall has caused several districts of Assam to flood in the past week. As of June 1, more than two lakh people have been affected and 9 people have been killed.

~IndianExpress