Amid Floods and Landslides, Mizoram Now Faces Water Crisis

Water pumping had to be stopped as Tlawng river turned turbid due to heavy rains

What a paradox. There is water everywhere. Even the river is swelling but not a drop to drink. This is exactly what is happening in Mizoram. Several parts of the state is facing a water crisis.

Continuous rainfall over the past few days has severely impacted the water supply in Mizoram’s capital, Aizawl, and neighbouring regions, following a major disruption in the Greater Aizawl Water Supply Scheme (GAWSS). All three phases of GAWSS — Phase I, II, and III have ceased operations due to rising turbidity in the Tlawng River and a critical transformer malfunction.

According to the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, water pumping from Phases I and II was suspended on May 30 after turbidity levels rendered water unsafe for distribution. Simultaneously, Phase III operations halted due to a power failure, resulting in a complete shutdown of the water supply to the city.

The crisis is further compounded by extensive infrastructure damage. Fourteen major pipelines across Aizawl have been destroyed, disrupting water distribution to numerous localities. Southern villages and the Kolasib district are also grappling with water scarcity as flooding has submerged pumping machines and mono-block pump sets.

Villages such as Hnahthial, Pangzawl, Rawpui, and Thiltlang are among the worst hit, facing complete water supply disruptions. Gravity pipeline damage and intake facility failures have further deepened the crisis across the state.

The PHE Department has appealed to the public to conserve existing water reserves and harvest rainwater. Fortunately, ongoing rainfall has provided some relief, with many residents turning to rainwater collection for daily use.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating restoration efforts as weather conditions improve.

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