Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, DECEMBER 29
The rigorous and tireless efforts from all quarters for over 72 hours resulted in the retrieval of the bodies of the three students who were drowned at frozen Sanctuary Fall of the picturesque Dzükou, Khonoma in Kohima district Monday afternoon. Khonoma village sources said the bodies were retrieved after hundreds of volunteers from Khonoma and neighbouring villages, frontal Angami organizations, police, army and National Disaster Response Force, Guwahati pumped out the water from the lake by breaking the icy layers.
Khonoma villagers brought in the pumps after the icy cold weather hampered operation of the search team, including scuba divers of NDRF Guwahati, Sunday evening. The volunteers carried the pumps along with generators for over four hours from the base camp near Tragopan Sanctuary upto the Sanctuary Fall, sources said.
After making all efforts, including pumping and breaking of frozen layers of the lake for several hours on Monday, the team managed to retrieve the ice-cold bodies of the three students at around 2.30 pm.
The victims were then put on the coffins and carried on foot by the volunteers. The volunteers reached the base camp near Tragopan Sanctuary at around 7 pm with two bodies while the body of the third victim was brought within next few minutes. At the base camp, necessary formalities were conducted and after offering prayers, the bodies were taken to Khonoma village by vehicle, sources said.
Meanwhile, sources also informed that the mass funeral of the three - Rokosietso Mor, his younger sister Ketourovino Mor and Mhiesikhono Viyie – will be held in the village at 11 am on Tuesday.
The three students drowned in the frozen lake on December 26 after the icy layer of the lake broke when they stepped into it to take photographs. They along with some other friends had gone there for picnic.
CM expresses gratitude
Chief Minister TR Zeliang has expressed gratitude to all concerned who had rendered their valuable assistance for the recovery of the bodies of the three students. The Chief Minister has specially thanked all the villagers, public, security forces and paramilitary forces and the National Disaster Management Authority from Guwahati.
Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Temjen Toy, has stated that all the three bodies of the victims who drowned at the Sanctuary Lake in Dzukou valley have been retrieved Monday afternoon at around 2 pm, an official release said.
