At least seven persons were killed and 13 others injured, some of them critically while around 23 remained missing after a massive landslide struck near a railway construction camp in Manipur’s Noney district, officials said on Thursday.
The incident took place around Wednesday midnight when the landslide struck near the Tupul yard railway construction camp located near Makhuam area, about 14 north east of Noney police station.
“So far we’ve recovered seven bodies and rescued 13 injured persons.The critically injured ones will be referred,” a senior state official monitoring the search & rescue operations said.
The death toll is likely to increase as approximately 23 people are still missing and the search operation is on.
The Ijai river flowing through Tamenglong and Noney districts has been obstructed by the debris that has created a dam-like storage condition which, if breached, will wreak havoc to the low-lying areas of Noney district, an advisory notice by deputy commisioner of Noney stated.
Meanwhile, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh convened an emergency meeting to monitor the situation closely.
Biren Singh went to the Noney district to physically oversee the search and rescue operations at the landslide hit area.
Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba,Nungba MLA Dinganglung Gangmei accompanied the chief minister during the visit.
Prior to the day’s inspection visit, the chief minister also chaired an emergency meeting and immediately mobilised the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and state disaster response force in close coordination with the army and railway authorities. Additional medical teams and ambulances have also left Imphal to assist in the rescue operations.
Manipur governor La Ganesan conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family members.
