Landslide in Manipur’s Noney district leaves 10 dead, several missing

The death toll due to the massive landslide in Noney district of Manipur on Thursday morning, has reached 10 while search operation is underway to rescue several missing people.

According to reports, the landslide, triggered by incessant rains in the northeast washed off a railway construction camp at Tupul, damaging the Tupul station building of the ongoing Jiribam-Imphal railway line project.

The landslide also affected the track formation and camps of construction workers.

The deceased include nine Territorial Army personnel.  At least four railway employees are reported to be missing.

The local police, Army and personnel from the disaster response forces are engaged in search and rescue operation and have rescued 18 persons including 13 Territorial Army personnel so far.

Several videos of people getting rescued from the debris are going viral on social media.

Our thoughts and prayers for the victims of the landslide in Noney District , #Manipur .

We urge the Govt to immediately provide medical help to the victims and expedite the relief work. pic.twitter.com/sVPjF3N7gv

— Tripura Pradesh Congress Sevadal (@SevadalTR) June 30, 2022

The district administration is also supplying relief materials to the affected.

The Biren Singh government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have assured full support to the state in a call with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

“The loss of lives of civilians and Armed Forces personnel due to a landslide in Noney, Manipur is extremely unfortunate. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the safety of the people for whom rescue and relief operations are underway,” tweeted President Ram Nath Kovind.

The disaster response teams have removed the debris which blocked the river Ijai, and threatened to flood the nearby areas by creating an artificial dam. A flood alert has been issued in the area and residents have been advised against venturing near river banks.

“Due to the unfortunate landslide…where casualties are being reported and dozens buried alive, the flow of the Ijai river has also been obstructed by the debris, creating a dam-like storage condition, which if breached will wreak havoc to the low-lying areas of Noney district,” the advisory read.

Locals have also been advised to avoid the National Highway-37 which remains blocked in the aftermath of the landslide.