9 killed in Manipur landslide, 7 bodies recovered

Imphal, July 11 (EMN): Nine people, mostly children, have died while seven others have been injured in a landslide that was caused by heavy rains in Manipur’s Tamenglong district in the early hours of Wednesday, official sources said. The bodies of seven persons including a mother of one of the victims have been recovered, but the bodies of two children are yet to be recovered, updates said.

The landslide took place in between around 2 to 3 am on Wednesday at three different places namely New Salem in ward-4, Neigailong in ward-2 and Ramgailong in ward-3 of Tamenglong district headquarters, located about 150 km west of Imphal, police sources said.

Out of nine, eight of the victims are under 18 years of age, police said. The district’s authorities under the supervision of the deputy commissioner were engaged in rescue operations at the time this report was going to press.

Five children of Gaithuanang Riamei of New Salem area lost their lives in the incident while a housewife Meijinglakliu Pamei and her son were killed when their house at Neigalong area was swept away by the landslide.

A baby boy and a three-year old daughter of Lanthailung Kamei were also reportedly washed away at Ramgailong area during the incident. Their bodies were yet to be recovered at the time this news report was being filed.

Manipur’s Chief Minister N Biren Singh stated in a tweet that rescue operations were underway. “I am deeply saddened to know that nine precious lives lost due to land slide at 3 places in Tamenglong headquarter, till now 7 bodies have been recovered 2 bodies of children yet to recovered. Rescue operations is on,” he tweeted.

A condolence message from Biren conveyed sympathy to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to the departed. Expressing deep pain, he assured that an ex-gratia of INR five lakh would be given to the next of kin of the deceased. He instructed the deputy commissioner of Tamenglong to provide immediate assistance to the victims and to monitor the situation.

A team led by Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister Karam Shyam Singh and Education Minister Th Radheshyam, accompanied by some senior officials of the state’s government, visited Tamenglong with a local legislator to assess the situation. They distributed relief materials to the villagers.

The district administration of Tamenglong has also opened a relief control room in the office of the deputy commissioner of Tamenglong to give assistance to the affected and to monitor the situation.

Reports said that most of the shops and markets of the hill town closed during the day in solidarity with the affected families.