Aizawl: Continuous heavy rain and landslides have extensively damaged Mizoram‘s water pipelines and pumping systems, prompting the state government to urge its citizens to harvest rainwater.
The state’s Public Health Engineering department has said that Aizawl may face water scarcity as water could not be pumped due to high turbidity and flooding of the Tlawng river, the state capital’s primary water source.
Water supply in five towns of Kolasib district has been disrupted after heavy damage to gravity pipelines and monoblock systems, the PHE department stated.
With water supplies affected, residents have been advised to exercise caution in their water usage and make use of most of the available rainwater.
Heavy contamination has rendered the water treatment plant ineffective at purifying water from the Tuivawl River, a primary source for the Khawzawl district.
The department also reported damage to gravity pipelines and urged people to save water.
The flooding of the Tuichang river in the Hnahthial district has damaged both the raw water pump and control panel, disrupting the power and water supply.
Authorities in Mamit and Siaha districts have also reported water supply disruptions, attributing them to mechanical damage and issues caused by flooding.
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Landslides and mudslides have been reported in 769 locations across the state as of Thursday, according to data from the Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department’s state emergency operation centre.
A total of 452 families have been evacuated so far. Of these, 338 families were displaced after their homes became vulnerable due to landslides, while 114 families were evacuated due to floods.
