Noney landslide tragedy claims 16 lives, Biren on spot takes stock of the situation for 2nd time

Impha: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh visited the Tupul Railway Construction Camp, Noney where the unfortunate landslide had occurred leaving several casualties, for the second time on Friday and personally reviewed the rescue operation being taken up at the site.

Biren termed the massive landslide as one of the worst incidents happened in the state adding that 81  persons had been affected, out of which 18 persons had been rescued.

The rescue operation team consisting of Manipur Police personnel, NDRF, SRDF and Army personnel had recovered eight more bodies today in addition to eight bodies which were recovered on Thursday. Due to the soft condition of the soil, road to the actual area of landslide couldn’t be restored, he said, stating that the state government had put all efforts using possible manpower and machines to recover the missing persons.

Biren expressed thankfulness to Prime Minister Sarendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah for showing much concern on the incident and providing assistance by sending NDRF personnel. He was hopeful that all the missing persons would be found within 2 to 3 days. He informed that an equipment had been brought from Ladakh by the Army which could locate where about of the dead bodies using its through wall radar system.

He lauded the rescue operation team for their tireless efforts to recover the missing persons.

Biren was accompanied by works minister Govindas Konthoujam, relief and disaster management minister Awangbow Newmai, social welfare minister Heikham Dingo, transport minister Khasim Vashum, chairman, Hill Areas Committee and MLA Diganglung Gangmei, MLA Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei, MLA Janghemlung Panmei, chief secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar and other senior civil and police officials among others.