Aizawl, Sept 13 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Mizoram’s first railway line and flagged off the state’s first Rajdhani Express, connecting Aizawl directly with Delhi. The landmark Barabi-Sairang rail line, built at a cost of around Rs 8,070 crore, has been described as one of the most challenging projects in Indian Railways’ history. Approved in 2008-09 and initiated in 2015, the line features 45 tunnels, 55 major bridges, and 87 minor bridges.

Officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway highlighted that the bridge near Sairang, standing at 114 meters, surpasses the height of the Qutub Minar, making it the tallest pier bridge in the country. The railway route also includes five road overbridges and six underpasses, with major stations at Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang, and Sairang, apart from Barabi.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the project will provide safe, efficient, and affordable travel for Mizoram’s people while ensuring timely and reliable supply of food grains, fertilizers, and essential goods. It is expected to improve passenger and freight transport, cut travel time, boost tourism and employment, and fulfill a long-standing demand of the state’s residents.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister flagged off three new express trains – the Sairang (Aizawl)-Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal) Rajdhani Express, the Sairang-Guwahati Express, and the Sairang-Kolkata Express. He also laid the foundation stones for projects across railway, road, energy, and sports sectors.

As per agency report, under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East (PM-DevINE), a 45-km Aizawl bypass road worth over Rs 500 crore will help decongest the city and improve connectivity with Lunglei, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Lengpui airport, and the Sairang railway station. Similarly, the Khankawn-Rongura road under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) will improve access to markets and benefit local horticulture farmers, along with supporting a ginger processing plant.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation for the Chhimtuipui bridge on the Longtlai-Siaha road, a multipurpose indoor sports hall under the Khelo India initiative, and an LPG bottling plant at Mualkhang in Aizawl. Additionally, he inaugurated a residential school in Kawrtah under the PM Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) and an Eklavya Model Residential School at Talangnuaim.

The inauguration of Mizoram’s first railway line marks a historic milestone, promising not only enhanced connectivity but also a transformative boost to the state’s economic and social development.

Aizawl, Jan 23 (IANS) At least eight crew members of a Myanmar Air Force aircraft were injured after the plane skidded off the Lengpui airport in Mizoram capital Aizawl on Tuesday, officials said.

The Myanmar Air Force fixed wing transport aircraft came to Lengpui airport to take back the remaining 92 Myanmar soldiers to their country.

Officials said that out of the 14 people who were on board the medium size aircraft along with the pilot, eight were injured and six were safe.

The injured were immediately rushed to Lengpui hospital.

Mizoram disaster management officials along with the district administration and police officials rushed to the Lengpui airport, 30 km from the Aizawl city, and rescued the injured crew of the Myanmar Air Force aircraft.

According to officials, as many as 184 of the 276 Myanmarese soldiers, who fled to Mizoram on January 17 after their camps were captured by armed pro-democracy ethnic groups, were flown back home on a Myanmar military aircraft on Monday.

“A Myanmar Air Force transport plane from Mandalay (Myanmar) landed at Lengpui airport on Monday and evacuated 184 Myanmar soldiers to Sittwe (Akyab) in two sorties. Before the departure of the Myanmarese soldiers, the Indian authorities have completed all necessary formalities,” a senior official told IANS.

The remaining 92 Myanmar soldiers were supposed to be airlifted on Tuesday.

The 276 Myanmar Army personnel took refuge in Mizoram's Lawngtlai district on January 17 after their camps were captured by the Arakan Army militants.

The Myanmar soldiers, with their arms and ammunition, reached Bandukbanga village, situated on the Mizoram-Myanmar-Bangladesh border trijunction, in Lawngtlai and were taken to Assam Rifles' Parva camp in the district.

Necessary medical support was also given to the soldiers, the official said.

With the latest influx, the number of soldiers who fled Myanmar since November 13 last year and reached India’s Mizoram state, has touched 636.

Aizawl, Dec 4 (IANS) The Congress, which governed Mizoram for more than 22 years in different terms since 1984 under the Chief Ministership of party stalwart Lal Thanhawla, performed disastrously in the state assembly elections, result of which was announced on Monday.

The Congress fielded candidates in all 40 seats but its nominee C. Ngunlianchunga is the only winner in Lawngtlai West seat by a margin of 432 votes.

Ngunlianchunga, who secured 11,296 votes, defeated the ruling Mizo National Front candidate V. Zirsanga, who bagged 10,864 votes.

Besides all other party leaders and former ministers, state Congress President Lalsawta lost his Aizawl West-III seat to opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) candidate V.L. Zaithanzama by a margin of 4,582 votes.

The Congress this time got 20.82 per cent votes against 29.98 per cent (five seats) in 2018 and 44.63 per cent votes (34 seats) in 2013.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Mizoram on October 16 and 17 and campaigned for the party.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor, party’s northeast in-charge Bhakta Charan Das among other leaders also took part in the campaign.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cancelled her scheduled campaign trips to the northeastern state while Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi gave a special video message to the people of Mizoram.

The Congress, before the elections, has formed ‘Mizoram Secular Alliance’ (MSA) with two local parties --- People’s Conference (PC) and Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) to unitedly fight against the BJP. The People’s Conference and ZNP did not put up any candidate.

State Congress President Lalsawta, who took moral responsibility for the party’s poor performance, announced to submit his resignation on Tuesday.

He told the media that the Congress, though defeated in the elections, but it would come back to power in the 2028 assembly elections.

Aizawl, Dec 4 (IANS) The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) is likely to form the next government in Mizoram for the first time as the party is leading in 26 seats in the 40-member Assembly leaving far behind the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), which is ahead in only ten seats.

As the counting of votes for the Mizoram Assembly elections is underway on Monday in 13 centers across the state, trends showed the opposition Congress leading in only one seat while the BJP was ahead in three seats.

ZPM’s President and Chief Ministerial candidate Lalduhoma is leading in the Serchhip seat while most of the prominent nominees of the party were leading in their respective seats.

MNF candidate and Chief Minister Zoramthanga was trailing in the Aizawl East-1 seat where ZPM nominee Lalthansanga was leading.

Deputy Chief Minister and MNF candidate Tawnluia was also trailing in Tuichang seat, where ZPM’s W. Chhuanawma was leading.

Several other MNF Ministers were also trailing in their respective seats.

In the 2018 elections, MNF bagged 26 of the 40 member-Assembly, while the ZPM got eight seats. The Congress had bagged five seats and the BJP managed to win one seat.

The counting of votes for the Mizoram Assembly polls, held on November 7, began at 8 a.m. amid elaborate security arrangements in all 11 districts of the state.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer H. Lianzela said that initially postal ballots were counted and then the counting of votes polled through the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was taken up.

Over 4,000 officials, including women, were engaged in the counting process. These officials are posted at 40 counting halls under 13 centres in 11 districts, the official told IANS.

Director General of Police Anil Shukla said that adequate security measures were in place for the smooth conduct of the counting process.

Adequate contingents of Central Armed Police Forces and Mizoram Armed Police have been deployed across the state to maintain law and order.

More than 80 per cent of the 8.57 lakh voters exercised their franchise to decide the electoral fate of 174 candidates, including 16 women.

The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), the main Opposition Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and the Congress have fielded candidates from all 40 seats while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is contesting four seats.

The BJP has fielded candidates on 23 seats with a special focus on linguistic minority inhabited areas, especially where the Reang and Chakma tribal communities are in good numbers in the voters' list.

Besides them, 27 independent candidates are also in the fray.

Aizawl, Aug 23 (IANS) At least 26 workers were killed and two others injured after an under-construction railway bridge collapsed near mountainous Sairang area of Mizoram on Wednesday, officials said. 

According to railway and police officials, 22 bodies have been recovered so far.

Rescue operations were on to recover the remaining four bodies from under the collapsed steel structure.

The railway bridge was under construction over the Kurung River connecting Bairabi (near southern Assam) to Sairang, 10 km away from Mizoram capital Aizawl.

The accident site is about 21 km from Aizawl.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), which is implementing the 51.38 km railway project, has sent several medical and engineering teams to provide medical assistance as well as the recovery process.

NFR General Manager (Construction) Sunil Kumar Jha, along with senior officials, have also rushed to Mizoram from the NFR headquarters Maligaon (Guwahati).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, many Chief Ministers of the northeastern states
and top leaders have expressed their deep anguish over the mishap.

The Prime Minister, who is now in Johannesburg for BRICS Summit, announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

The Railway Minister also announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs ten lakh for the deceased, Rs two lakh towards grievous and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga also deeply saddened over the mishap.

“Under construction railway over bridge at Sairang, near Aizawl collapsed today; at least 17 workers died: Rescue under progress.

Deeply saddened and affected by this tragedy. I extend my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and wishing a speedy recovery to
the injured. Sending gratitude to the people who have come out in large numbers to help with rescue operations,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.  

The height of the piers of the under construction bridge, which collapsed on Wednesday, is 104 meter.

Sairang railway station is set to be the last railhead before reaching Mizoram’s capital Aizawl.

Scheduled to be completed by December this year, the project would connect mountainous Aizawl with the national railway network.

There are 32 tunnels (12.67 km total length), 16 cut and cover tunnels (2.58 km total length) along the 51.38 km long Bairabi to Sairang stretch
of the broad gauge railway line, which traverses through Thingdawl and Tlangnuam areas under Kolasib and Aizawl districts respectively.

There are 55 major bridges of which six are tall bridges having a height of more than 70 meter (the tallest being 104 meter), 87 minor bridges, five
road overbridges and eight road underbridges.