Landslide Tragedy : Recovery works begin at Joumoul
Providential escape for 8 villagers; 20 more NDRF members rushing to Manipur
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 02 2015: The 20 members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) who arrived in Imphal on Saturday night by a special IAF helicopter had reached Joumoul Village in Chandel district on Sunday evening.

They have started the recovery works.

At least four bodies were extricated from the debris and more bodies are to be accounted for.

It is feared that some more bodies are trapped beneath the collapsed houses, mud and debris.

Meanwhile, the Manipur government has decided to give a compensation of Rs 500,000 each to the next of the kin of the victims.

The Government spokesperson Moirangthem Okendro briefed reporters shortly after the emergency cabinet meeting held on Sunday evening.

The NDRF team left Imphal for the affected village located along the international border at 2 pm.

However, it was only at 3:30 pm that they could reach the devastated village.

District officials accompanied by medical staff left for the village on Sunday morning.

The official team is rendering medical assistance and looking after their requirements.

Relief materials are being distributed to the people.

Landslide Tragedy : Recovery works begin at Joumoul

Since the devastation is massive and many other villages nearby are also in urgent need of rescue and relief assistance, 20 more NDRF members will arrive in Imphal on Monday morning from Guwahati.

Assam Rifles personnel also extended assistance to villagers there.

Personnel are still engaged in the rescue works there.

Providential escape for 8 villagers .

At least four bodies have been recovered from the Joumoul Village landslide site under Kangbarol sub-division in Chandel District by the combined effort of Assam Rifles and National Disasters Response Force (NDRF).

Meanwhile, the local MLA Victor Nunglung claimed that 8 persons presumed dead in the disaster were found taking shelter in Sugnu. According to a highly reliable source, 18 villagers were missing out of which six were found and four bodies have been recovered.

Eight persons are still missing from the landslide area.

The Assam Rifles team could rescue three persons at 12 noon.

They were identified as Robert Hamlet Baite who is the chief of Joumoul village (47), son of Lamkhajong Baite, Shekhow Baite (37), son of Namthong Baite and Thongmang Baite (40), son of Sonkhojang Baite.

The village chief reported that there were 23 houses with 18 occupants when the landslide occurred at 8 am on Friday.

The village now has only 10 houses.

The total population of the village according to chief is 74 and remaining villagers were found taking shelter in Sugnu.

He further said that six others also escaped and search for them is still on.

The six survivors included Mangkholet Baite, son of Ngehkang Baite who reached Aibol Joupi and Mongpu Paite and Nagmandel Paite who reached Chamol post and three other survivors who were rescued.

The two who came to Chamol said 10 houses with 18 occupants came under landslide and 18 persons who occupied 10 houses were missing.

Out of the 18, six were rescued.

Local MLA Victor Nunglung claimed that eight persons reached Sungu late Saturday night while Chandel DC Ksh Robert said there is no official report or confirmation of this good news.

One Mangkholet Baite son of Ngehkang Baite who was earlier suspected to be dead in the landslide survived the calamity.

Ngehkang reached Aibol Joupi village on Friday along with his two close friends Mongpu and Nagmandel Baite.