21 killed, 17 injured in Assam landslides

Guwahati/Karimganj, June 2

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Torrential rains triggered massive landslides in three districts of Assam’s Barak valley on Tuesday, dumping mountains of mud, swamping homes and snuffing out at least 21 lives, officials said.

Three families were almost entirely wiped out, while 17 persons were injured in Hailakandi, Karimganj and Cachar districts. Eight persons, including five of a family, died in Hailakandi district.

Loosened by incessant rain, a hillside came crashing down on the tin-roofed house of Kuton Mia Laskar (40) early morning, killing him, his wife Jhumpa Begum (35), and three daughters Hazira (five), Nazira (four) and Tuli (three) in Mohanpur village, 15 km from Hailakandi town.

Two other landslides killed Rupchand Sarkar and Matiur Rahman Laskar in Chandipur grant area, while Chandmoni Maal (6) died in a separate mudslide in Mohanpur, officials said. Five people were also injured in these three incidents.

Seven members of a family were smothered under mounds of mud that flattened their home when they were asleep in Kolarpur village of neighbouring Cachar district. Two others were injured, police said. Two others seriously injured were rescued by police and locals.

A pre-dawn tragedy struck Karimpur in Karimganj district, when another hillside collapsed on the house of Ajiruddin (57), burying him and four members of his family around 3.30 am. A girl, Jaynal Bibi (15), died in another house in the same area, he said.

Ten people were rescued by the police and state disaster department personnel.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condoled the deaths and asked the district administrations to undertake quick relief and rehabilitation measures for those affected. He also asked them to ensure proper treatment to those hospitalised.

“I have directed Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj district administrations and SDRF to step up rescue, relief operations and facilitate all possible help needed to those affected.” — PTI