Guwahati: Eighteen people have been rescued but at least 71 others are feared buried in debris after a massive landslide hit Tupul Railway Station in Manipur’s Noney district late Wednesday, ThePrint has learnt.
According to information shared by district officials, of the eight bodies recovered so far, seven belong to personnel who were part of a Territorial Army camp. These personnel were stationed near Tupul Railway Station to protect a railway line being constructed from Jiribam district to the state’s capital, Imphal.
Around 44 army personnel, three railway officials, 21 employees of two construction firms involved in the railway line project, and three other civilians are feared to be among those trapped in the debris, the district officials further said. The locations of 24 more army personnel have not yet been confirmed, they added.
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh visited the landslide site to take stock of the situation Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi meanwhile tweeted that he had spoken to the CM and assured all possible support from the Centre.
Spoke to Manipur CM Shri @NBirenSingh Ji and reviewed the situation due to a tragic landslide. Assured all possible support from the Centre. I pray for the safety of all those affected.
My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 30, 2022
The chief minister told reporters that the state government will provide Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. ThePrint reached him for comment via calls but was yet to receive a response at the time of publishing this report.
The Tupul Railway Station, which is located roughly 15 km southeast of the district headquarters of Noney, is part of a 111 km-long railway project that has been under construction for several years.
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1 NDRF team at site, two more on the way
“In response [to the disaster], the state government has immediately mobilised the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in close coordination with army and railway authorities. Local staff, including medical teams, are rendering all possible assistance. Additional medical teams and ambulances have left Imphal already,” wrote Additional Secretary to Manipur CM, Neilenthang Telien, in a press release issued Thursday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted Thursday that a team of the NDRF has reached the spot while two more are on their way to Tupul.
Spoke to CM Shri @NBirenSingh and Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw in the wake of a landslide near the Tupul railway station in Manipur. Rescue operations are in full swing. A team of NDRF has already reached the spot and joined the rescue operations. 2 more teams are on their way to Tupul.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 30, 2022
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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