Imphal, Jul 3: The death toll from Thursday’s devastating landslide at a railway construction site in Manipur’s Noney district has risen to 37 with the retrieval of more bodies from the accident site on Sunday.
The victims include 24 Territorial Army jawans. A massive operation continues to bring out more bodies in the face of hostile weather conditions, rescue officials said.
Manipur Chief Minister N.Biren Singh and the district officials separately said that another massive landslide devastated Sibilong in the same district early on Sunday.
Official reports said that landslides triggered by the incessant rains also occurred on Saturday night in western Manipur’s Tupul, where around 80 persons including Territorial Army personnel are feared to have been buried alive after the catastrophic mudslide in the under-construction railway infrastructures on Thursday.
The Chief Minister on Sunday visited the Army hospital and spent some times with the jawans who got injured in the landslide at Tupul.
He announced Rs 50,000 as an exgratia to each jawan and wished them speedy recovery.
Visited the Army hospital at IGAR South Headquarters to spend some time with the jawans who got injured in the recent landslide at Tupul. Thankful to all of them for their incredible service to the Nation. Extended a sum of Rs 50,000 to each jawan and wished them speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/8YUck2Wjzz
— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) July 3, 2022
Due to continuous heavy downpour and landslides, multiple road blockades at Nungdolan, Nungkao and Sibilong on the National Highway 37 occurred. Concerned authorities have been informed to clear the road, Singh said urging the people to take care and avoid this road, NH 37 for time being.
Due to continuous heavy downpour and landslides, NH 37 has multiple road blockades at Nungdolan, Nungkao and Sibilong. Concerned authorities have been informed to clear the road.
Please take care and avoid this road, NH 37 for time being 🙏 pic.twitter.com/LHVdb8HbuL
— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) July 3, 2022
Defence Spokesman Lt Col Angom Bobin Singh said that despite extreme bad weather, intensive search operations by Indian Army, Assam Rifles, Territorial Army, National and State Disaster Response Forces continued at the incident site at Tupul.
The “Through Wall Radar” and Search and Rescue Dogs were inducted to hasten the search operation, he said adding that 13 Territorial Army personnel and five civilians have been rescued.
Several excavators are being used to pull out bodies from the Ijei River.
Meanwhile, the mortal remains of the deceased Territorial Army jawans have been taken to their respective home stations by special IAF aircraft and an Indian Army helicopter to Kolkata, Bagdogra and Agartala.
Relentless efforts to search for the remaining seven missing Territorial Army personnel and 21 civilians would continue till the last individual is found, the Defence spokesman said.
Meanwhile, experts said that Noney district is one of the worst earthquake prone zone and several high and moderate intensity tremors have occurred in the areas earlier.
Meanwhile, the district administration has once again on Sunday cautioned civilians living in downstream areas of the Ijei river to evacuate due to the likelihood of breach in the dam created on the river by the landslide.
Noney Deputy Commissioner Haulianlal Guite said the landslide also obstructed the course of the Ijei river which flows through Tamenglong and Noney districts, and warned the general public, especially children, against going near the river.
