Noney Landslide Toll Rises to 25, Manipur CM Says 'Situation in Tupul Serious'

The toll due to landslide near a railway construction site in Manipur’s Noney district rose to 24.

The toll in Manipur landslide has risen to 25.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

The death toll due to the massive landslide at Tupul in Manipur's Noney district has risen to 25 on Saturday, 2 July. Five bodies were found under the debris at the rail line construction site.

According to a report on EastMojo, seven people from Assam, including two security personnel, were killed in the landslide.

A total of 38 people are still reported missing and search is on, officials said.

"The situation in the landslide affected area of Tupul is still serious. Due to rainfall in the morning, we are expecting the bad weather to persist. So far, 18 injured person and 25 deceased have been recovered. 38 persons are still missing," Chief Minister N Biren Singh tweeted, sharing the video of a landslide.

Meanwhile, another landslide has hit near the construction site at Manipur's Noney district on Saturday, news agency ANI reported.

The first landslide occurred on Wednesday night where a company of the 107 Territorial Army (TA) was deployed at a construction site near the Tupul yard railway construction site, raising questions about the construction of rail line in a landslide prone area.

The TA was deployed for the protection of an under-construction railway line from Jiribam to Imphal.

The debris of the landslide had blocked the Ijai river, forming dam-like storage, threatening the people living nearby. Earth-movers have been brought in to remove the debris, and create a channel to allow the flow of water, officials said.

A total of 13 Territorial Army personnel and five civilians have been safely rescued till now, while bodies of 18 Territorial Army personnel and six civilians have been recovered, a defence spokesperson in Guwahati said.

"Search for 12 missing Territorial Army personnel and 26 civilians continued," he said.

The Indian Army, Assam Rifles, Territorial Army, National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force are continuing the search operations to rescue those stuck under the debris.

The toll in the massive landslide at Tupul in Noney district has risen to 24.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

"Through Wall Radar is being successfully used, and a search and rescue dogs is being employed to assist," the spokesperson said.

Efforts are intensified to rescue those stuck under the debris.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

Meanwhile, the bodies of 14 personnel, including a junior commissioned officer, were sent to their hometowns by two Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft and an Army helicopter, while the body of one personnel was sent to Kangpokpi district in Manipur by road.

Full military honours were given to the deceased personnel at Imphal before sending the bodies to their destinations, the spokesperson said.

Full military honours were given to the deceased personnel at Imphal.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

On Friday, Manipur CM had inspected the landslide spot, and called it the "worst incident in the history of state", adding that, it will take 2-3 days more to recover all the dead bodies, ANI reported.

The CM has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured, NDTV reported.

In a tweet on Saturday, Singh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had called him, and are monitoring the situation.

Pointing out the terrain of the area, the rail line is located in the hills and the hills of the state are made of loose earth and are prone to massive landslides and mudslides, which disrupt vehicular movements, The Hindu reported.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that one person from Assam's Morigaon lost his life due to the landslide, while five were undergoing treatment.

(With inputs from The Hindu, PTI and ANI.)