A powerful landslide struck Lawngtlai town in south Mizoram late Friday night, May 30, 2025, causing the collapse of five houses and a hotel, and leaving several people, including Myanmar nationals, feared trapped under the debris.
The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. in the border area between Bazar Veng and Chandmary localities, which are among the most densely populated zones in Lawngtlai town, located near the India-Myanmar border.
Rescue Operations Underway
Rescue and relief operations began shortly after the incident and resumed at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday. The mission is being led by multiple agencies, including the Central Young Lai Association (CYLA) Response Team, 3rd IR Battalion, Assam Rifles, and the District Disaster Management Team (DDMT). Local volunteers and community leaders have also joined hands in the operation.
Despite ongoing challenges due to unstable terrain, heavy debris, and continued rainfall, rescue personnel are working tirelessly to clear the rubble and search for survivors.
“Several people, including foreign nationals from Myanmar who were staying at the collapsed hotel, are unaccounted for. We are doing everything possible to find them,” said a rescue team official at the site.
Torrential Rains Continue to Threaten
Mizoram has been experiencing torrential rain since Friday evening, triggering landslides and rockfalls in various parts of the state, especially in hilly and vulnerable areas like Lawngtlai.
Local authorities have urged all residents, especially those in landslide-prone zones, to remain on high alert and to avoid unnecessary travel. Evacuation advisories have been issued in certain areas where additional landslides are feared.
Situation Remains Critical
The exact number of casualties is still unknown as search and rescue operations continue. Officials have yet to confirm the number of people trapped or injured, but fear that the toll could rise given the scale of the destruction.
Chief Minister Lalduhoma is expected to visit the site later today, and the Mizoram State Disaster Management Authority (MSDMA) has been mobilized to support ongoing relief efforts.
The landslide in Lawngtlai serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by extreme weather in Mizoram’s mountainous regions, especially during the monsoon season.
