Guwahati: At least seven people from Assam —including one member of the armed forces—were killed in the Tupul landslide in Manipur’s Noney district, informed Minister Pijush Hazarika.
The Water Resource Minister reported that seven Assamese construction business employees’ bodies along with one army jawan had been found after visiting the landslide site in Manipur on Saturday to assess the situation.
The minister added, “There are still 11 additional construction workers from Assam missing, along with one railway engineer. Two of the five state residents who were saved are being treated in hospitals.”
He added that the Union Government is providing the state with all feasible logistical support for the rescue efforts.
“I visited the territorial army camp in Tupul, Manipur today (Saturday), which was severely damaged by a large landslide, as instructed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. I evaluated the ongoing search and rescue efforts for territorial army personnel and citizens still missing, ” he added.
He said, “On behalf of the Government of Assam, I sincerely extend my thanks to the Government of Manipur, led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, for their tireless efforts in the rescue and relief operations of the victims despite difficult geographical challenges.”
As many 24 dead have so far been found in the general Tupul area of Manipur where the landslide occurred. The landslide struck the Noney district of Manipur on the night between Wednesday and Thursday close to the company position of the 107 Territorial Army of the Indian Army stationed close to Tupul Railway Station to guard the under-construction Jiribam to Imphal railway line.
According to the North-East Frontier Railway CPRO, the Tupul station building of the ongoing Jiribam – Imphal new line project was damaged by a landslide brought on by the nonstop rain.