Aizawl: A sense of cautious calm has descended upon Mizoram as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounded a severe red alert for Thursday, predicting extremely heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across the state. In a prompt response to safeguard its youngest citizens, the Mizoram government wasted no time in announcing the closure of all educational institutions.
The directive, communicated through a formal notification late on Wednesday by the School Education Department, underscored the gravity of the situation. Officials affirmed that the decision was arrived at after thorough consultations with the Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department, weighing the IMD’s stark warnings and the latest updates from both the Regional Meteorological Centre in Guwahati and the local Meteorological Centre in Aizawl.
Authorities have earnestly appealed to the public to remain vigilant and embrace all necessary precautions. The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) and its district-level counterparts have been mobilised to a state of heightened alert, ready to tackle any exigency. Citizens have been urged to store the crucial helpline numbers – 1077, 1070, 0389-2342520, and the ubiquitous 112 – for immediate assistance during emergencies.
Adding to the preparedness, the Mizoram Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department has also disseminated an advisory, imploring residents to stay indoors and avoid venturing out unless absolutely necessary during the inclement weather. They have further requested that any untoward incidents be immediately reported to the nearest emergency centre.
This proactive stance by the state government is not without a poignant backdrop. The memory of May last year, when incessant rainfall unleashed devastating landslides claiming over 30 precious lives in Aizawl and other districts, still lingers. Learning from that heart-wrenching experience, the Mizoram administration has significantly ramped up its disaster preparedness and inter-agency coordination efforts, resolute in its commitment to avert a repeat of such a profound tragedy.