The massive landslide in Manipur in the night between 29th and 30th June has taken a toll of 20 people so far, out of which 15 were Territorial Army personnel.
The landslide eroded a major portion of a hill and hit the 107 Territorial Army camp of the Indian Army, deployed to guard the major railway line from Jiribam to Imphal. It was situated at Tupul yard railway construction camp in Manipur’s Noney district.
Additional teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) from Silchar and Kohima are also joining the existing search operation groups. The rescue teams have also started using big machinery, it is learnt. Rough weather, difficult terrain, and a 2 km stretch area make the rescue operations particularly difficult.
The debris from the landslide which had blocked the Ijei river created a reservoir that could have inundated low-lying areas. Thankfully the water level has been receding fast after eight excavators were put to clear the debris. Search operation is continuing with deployment of around 10 excavators and usage of Through Wall Imaging Radar (TWIR) for detection of any human presence.
13 Territorial Army personnel and five civilians have been safely rescued, so far and the search for 15 missing Territorial Army personnel and 29 civilians is continued.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh also visited the site of biggest landslide in the history of the state for the second time on Friday.for reviewing the rescue operation. Ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 each for those injured is announced by the State.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also tweeted about the loos of lives of nine jawans from her state.
