Mizoram quarry collapse UPDATE: 17 dead, several still missing as rains keep pace with rescue ops

An earlier version of this article was published at 12:55 p.m.

UPDATE: At least 17 people have been discovered dead, including two minors, on Tuesday, 28 May, in the stone quarry collapse in Mizoram's Aizawl district amid incessant rains as an impact of Cyclone Remal.

The police fear 6-7 people are still trapped, Mizoram director-general of police (DGP) Anil Shukla told PTI.

He said that the heavy rain was affecting rescue operations at the disaster site.

A four-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl are among the victims of the stone quarry collapse, another police officer said. "We have also rescued two persons alive from the site," he said.

The incident happened around 6 a.m. in an area between Melthum and Hlimen on the southern outskirts of the Aizawl town, the police said.

Seven of the deceased have been identified as locals, while three are from outside the state, another police officer said.

Chief minister Lalduhoma has announced Rs 4 lakh ex gratia for the families of those killed in calamities caused by the rains at this time, including victims of the quarry collapse.

He handed over cheques of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the eight Mizo citizens who died in the quarry collapse and said the remaining amount would be given to them soon.

"More than 10 people are believed to be still trapped under the debris," he said in the morning.

The rains triggered landslides at several other places in the state and at least two persons have died, officials said.

A landslide swept away a building in Aizawl's Salem Veng, following which three persons went missing. A search is underway for them, an official said.

The state capital has been cut off from the rest of the country due to a landslide on National Highway 6 at Hunthar, officials said.

Besides, several intra-state highways have also been disrupted by landslides, they said.

Chief minister Lalduhoma convened an emergency meeting with Home Minister K Sapdanga, chief secretary Renu Sharma and other senior officials to take stock of the situation, they added.

Because of the rains, all schools were closed and government employees, except those involved in providing essential services, were asked to work from home.