122/2024-2025

Dated Serchhip, the 24^th June, 2024: Members of the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) conducted an inspection today to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Remal in Serchhip District. The delegation received by Serchhip Deputy Commissioner Pu David Lalthantluanga,IAS and other local officials, convened at the Serchhip DC Meeting Hall for a comprehensive briefing.

During the meeting, detailed reports on the cyclone's impact was presented by officials from the Serchhip DC Office and the District Horticulture Office. Additional updates were provided by the District Agriculture Office, Public Health Engineering (PHE), and Public Works Department (PWD).

Cyclone Remal's destruction, spanning May 27 and 28, 2024, left 60 houses in ruins within Serchhip District. Of these, 22 were totally damaged, while another 38 suffered partial damage. Reports from 54 Village Councils in the district indicate that 23 areas suffered cyclone induced landslides. These figures are continually being updated as new information emerges.

Farmland in Zawlpui and nearby areas sustained severe damages. Known as the "Vegetable Bowl of Mizoram," this region supports numerous families through the cultivation of crops such as cabbage, brinjal, chilli, tomatoes, maize etc. The Horticulture Department reported that 152 farmers were impacted by the floods, with 130 hectares of crops valued at Rs. 41.92 lakhs damaged. These numbers are expected to rise as further assessments are conducted.

The Agriculture Department noted that 64 farmers lost their crops, with 40 hectares of agricultural land in Serchhip District destroyed by the cyclone. The extreme weather also triggered landslides, causing significant infrastructure damage, including the destruction of irrigation pipelines and farm machinery accumulated over years. The Sihdarh Zau Green House in East Lungdar, constructed under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), and seven other Green House Clusters in the district were damaged.

The IMCT team, which included Shri Jintu Das, Director of the Department of Agriculture; Shri. Mahesh Kumar, Deputy Director of FCD; and Shri. Rajveer Singh, Superintending Engineer from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, visited the Zawlpui Zau and Chawm farms. They were accompanied by Serchhip DC Pu David Lalthantluanga and officials from the Agriculture, Horticulture, Information & Public Relations (I&PR), and Irrigation departments.

The inspection aims to facilitate the formulation of a robust recovery plan and ensure that affected farmers receive assistance from the Central Government to rebuild their livelihoods.