Eight persons including a pregnant woman were buried alive under the debris after a massive landslide occurred in Mawbah under Mawprem area in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills District, officials said.
The landslide triggered by incessant rains since Friday, rolled over a house tucked just below steep slopes burying all the persons late last night.
"Eight persons, among them a pregnant woman, got buried under the debris due to the landslide," Deputy Commissioner Cyril VD Diengdoh told PTI here.
One member from the house was however rescued by the operation team.
The rescued man has been identified as Monu Boro, who was immediately shifted to city hospital.
The bodies were retrieved after considerable efforts were made by personnel from the Fire department, police and home guard and later taken to the civil hospital for post-mortem.
According to district officials present at the site, the operation to recover the bodies started since 7 am and completed at 3pm.
The deceased were identified as Santosh Sharma (24), Lal Babu Sharma (35), Mahindar Sharma (40), Kamlesh Kumar Sharma (19), Nagnazar Sharma (45), Sobita Kuri (65), Rajesh Kuri (32) and Puja Kuri (22).
The deputy commissioner said next of kin of the deceased will also be entitled to ex-gratia payment for loss of lives.
"We are still awaiting report to identify the next of kin of the deceased and ex-gratia payment will be paid as per norms.
