At least 16 families have vacated their houses and one
building had to be demolished due to
a massive landslide at Bawngkawn
here on Thursday.
Bawngkawn local council members
informed Information & Public Relations Minister Lalruatkima, who visited the site Saturday morning that
the 16 families fled their homes as the
landslide posed threat to it. One building had been demolished, they said.
The landslide between Vishal showroom and Hauva filling station triggered a roadblock on BawngkawnLunglei road, causing a big traffic congestion in the area. Monitored by Aizawl district disaster management authority and PWD, earth excavators
were put into operation to clear the
blockade. Officials said the roadblock
would be cleared by Monday.
When monsoon comes, “living on
the edge” is what most of the residents of Mizoram State capital Aizawl, a picturesque city that nestles on
top of a beautiful mountain, are practically doing in their day to day lives.
Forget about massive earthquake
that can rock the otherwise beautiful
hill city anytime, most of the city
dwellers live in fear of landslides that
come every monsoon without fail.
This monsoon, the disastrous landslide that caused a massive building at
BSUP complex in Durtlang to collapse
and claimed three lives has caused
sleepless nights to many residents of
the city. Geologists’ comments that
most of the buildings in Aizawl can meet
the same fate as the buildings at Laipuitlang have added fuel to their fears.
The soil in most parts of Aizawl is
soft and the topography has an average of more than 35 degree slope.
“Due to heavy rainfall and improper
drainage and sewerage system, large
amount of water penetrate into the
soil. This makes the city highly vulnerable to disastrous landslides,” a
geologist said.
To make matters worse, most of
the buildings in Aizawl were constructed without following safety
norms and sub-standard materials,
particularly iron rods and cement,
were used.
The city can face a major disaster
due to landslides triggered by monsoon rains or earthquake as entire Mizoram is earthquake prone.
Built in 1890, Aizawl turns 129 year
this year. But literally speaking, the
youthful city looks like an old man
waiting for the end to come. The rapid and unplanned urbanisation has
made the city more vulnerable to landslides, according to an official in the
Disaster & Rehabilitation department.
“Landslides in Aizawl are mainly
man-made disasters. It can be prevented by taking certain precautionary measures,” he said.
A senior geologist at the Geology
and Mining department said that the
structure of the soil also has something to do with landslides.
Many landslide-prone areas in Aizawl are covered with silpaulin sheets
to prevent seepage from rains. However, they remain even in the dry season. The geologist advised the cover
be lifted during non-rainy season to
let the sun harden the soil.
Improper sewage system, dumping
of garbage in the drains and littering the
environment with polythene bags are
other factors behind landslides. Environmentalists have strongly advocated
banning of the use of polythene bags. To
make matters worse, most of the buildings in the city do not follow safety norms
to withstand not alone earthquake but
even massive landslides.
ZODIN SANGA
AIZAWL, July 28
Assam Tribune