Landslide kills 14 in northeast India

By Abdul Gani

GUWAHATI, India (AA) - At least 14 people were buried alive in a landslide in India’s northeastern state Arunachal Pradesh bordering China Tuesday afternoon, according to government officials.

Several houses were also damaged by the mud and stones debris at Laptap village under Toru Circle of Papum Pare district.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Jalash Pertin told media that the incident occurred due to incessant rains, which continued for the last several days.

All the bodies have been retrieved by the personnel of National Disaster Response Force and state police.

“It happened so suddenly that we just couldn’t react to it. We are lucky to survive. And if it was during the night, there were hundreds of causalities,” said Tine, a local villager who escaped the nature’s fury.

Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu ordered urgent rescue operation to evacuate probable survivors trapped inside the debris, directing the district administration to remain alert.

The district administration is also working to ensure that people residing in vulnerable areas are immediately shifted to safer locations and provided with all basic amenities at least till the monsoons recede, an official statement of the government said.

The monsoon rains have caused massive floods and landslides in the northeastern part of the country. At least 40 people have died till Tuesday in flood.