Death count in Manipur landslide rises to 42, more rains affect search for missing persons

Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 3 (EMN): The death toll due to the Manipur landslide rose to 42 as eight more bodies were recovered from the debris on the fourth day of search operation for survivors on Sunday, officials said.

On June 29 midnight, a massive landslide took place near the railway construction camp at Marangching part 5 areas, about 75 west of the state capital in Manipur’s Noney district.

The landslide also hit 107 Territorial Army (TA) camps of the Indian army deployed at the area for the protection of the railway construction work.

A senior state government official said eight bodies including four Territorial Army personnel were recovered on Sunday. Two are civilians, two yet to be identified, he said.

Till 7.30 pm on Sunday, 42 bodies were recovered while 18 injured persons were rescued and referred to hospitals for treatment. Out of the total bodies recovered, 27 are those from Territorial Army personnel while 20 others including three Territorial Army are still missing.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Biren Singh visited the army men who are undergoing medical treatment after being injured during the massive landslide, at the Assam Rifles Military Hospital at Mantripukhri in the outskirts of Imphal on Sunday.

Accompanied by Manipur Health Minister Dr. S Ranjan, Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Kumar and DGP Manipur P Doungel, Biren Singh also handed over a sum of INR 50,000 each to the injured persons during the visit. Earlier, Biren Singh had announced an ex gratia of INR 5 lakh to the next kin of the deceased persons.

Union Minister of State for Education, Dr. Subhas Sarkar along with Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista also visited the landslide hit area on Sunday.

On July 2 morning, a fresh landslide was reported at the Marangching area, where search operations were continuing for the third day. But no loss of life or property was reported during the incident.

In the meantime, the Deputy Commissioner of Noney district Haulianlal Guite issued an order to avoid pile-up of vehicles and visitors at ground zero of the Marangching landslide, Noney and ensure there is smooth, efficient operation of vehicles used in the landslide search and rescue operation.

 No vehicles carrying relief materials from civil society organisations and other well-wishers would be allowed beyond the highway junction, all such relief materials would be deployed at the DC office where SDO Haochong would receive them, the order said.

The ongoing search operation by nearly 500 personnel belonging to NDRF, SDRF,Army, state and other agencies, resumed from 9 am onwards even though it was disturbed by rain for sometime on Sunday morning.

Stating that the through wall radar and search and rescue dog inducted are being employed to hasten the search operation, the Army in a press release on Sunday informed that mortal remains of seven personnel  of  Territorial Army were sent  to respective home stations by IAF aircraft and an Indian Army helicopter to Kolkata, Bagdogra and Agartala.

 “They were paid full military honors by GOC Red Shield Division and IG IGAR (South) at Imphal in the morning of July 3. Similar befitting honors will be paid at respective home stations as well,” the release said.