Locals staying in tents after quakes hit Mizoram's Champhai: Official

After a series of earthquake hit Mizoram in the past one month, several people in Champhai district of the state are now spending nights in makeshift tents outside their homes, said an official.

Tremors ranging from 4.2 to 5.5 in magnitude have hit four districts of the state – Serchhip, Champhai, Saitual, and Siaha – at least 22 times since June 18. The hardest-hit district was Champhai, which borders Myanmar.

Champhai district Deputy Commissioner Maria C.T. Zuali said that makeshift tents were set up at several villages by people and the district administration provided tarpaulins, water barrels, solar lamps and first-aid kits to them. She said that biscuits and sorazo (food supplements) were also provided to old people.

According to the deputy commissioner, at least 20 earthquakes have hit Champhai district in a month. She said that more than 16 villages have been affected by the earthquakes and over 170 houses, including churches and community halls were damaged.

At Dungtlang, one of the worst-hit villages in Champhai district, at least five makeshift camps have been set up, Dungltang Young Mizo Association (YMA) Assistant Secretary John Zothanmawia Fanai said.

On Monday, the government sent three teams of doctors that consisted of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and medical specialists to the quake-hit areas to assist the people, who developed mental trauma following the quakes. The teams are currently touring affected villages in Champhai district.

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Dr C. Lalhrekima, a psychiatrist in a government hospital, leading one of the teams, said that many people have anxiety due to frequent earthquakes. “We are giving counselling to the panic-stricken people apart from giving medical care,” he said.

The Mizoram government on Tuesday sent Geology and Mineral Resource department joint secretary H Lalbiakkima, who is also a geologist, to Champhai district to study and assess the cause of earthquakes.

According to Zuali, some geologists from Mizoram University (MZU) will also visit quake-hit villages in Champhai district. In June, Chief Minister Zoramthanga had asked the Centre to send expert seismologists or geophysicists to assess the ground situation and the exact cause of the earthquakes.

(With inputs from agencies)