Landslide toll reaches 47, identification getting tougher
Minister Awangbow monitors search and rescue operation; consoles victim families
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 04 2022: Though five more bodies were recovered on the fifth day of the ongoing search and rescue operation at the landslide hit Makhuam village in Noney district, identification of bodies is becoming increasingly difficult due to tissue deterioration/decomposed state in which the bodies were found.

With the recovery of five more bodies on Monday, altogether 47 corpses have been retrieved from among the debris left by landslide so far but 14 people are still missing.

One among the five bodies recovered on Monday belonged to Territorial Army while of three were workers of Venkata Sai Construction (VSC) and one of Railways.

Search and rescue operation resumed early Monday morning with active involvement of 814 personnel of NDRF (48), SDRF (35), state police (140), Territorial Army (90), 10 AR (410), 86 CRPF (41) and local volunteers (50) .

Apart from these personnel, 46 heavy machines are also being used in searching for the missing people.

Apart from three specific locations where the search used to be concentrated in the last few days, the search operation on Monday focused on both banks of Izei river, from where the search team managed to recover the five bodies.

Identification of the recovered bodies, however, is getting increasingly difficult due to tissue deterioration/decomposed nature of the retrieved bodies.

Noney DC Haulianlal Guite, on the other hand, corrected the earlier casualty figure and confirmed that a total of 79 people were washed away by the landslide which include 43 of 107 TA COB (B-coy), 22 of VSC, three of Railways, three of BIPL, one of NIPL Infra Project, five villagers, one civil driver of TA and one civil cook of BIPL.

In an earlier report, it was mentioned that 23 people belonging to VSC were washed away by the landslide but it has been confirmed now that only 22 people of VSC were affected by the landslide and thus reducing total affected figure to 79 now from 80 earlier.

Of the total 79 missing people, bodies of 47 have been recovered till Monday and 14 are still missing which include two of TA, six of VSC, one of Railways and five villagers.

Meanwhile, relief & disaster minister Awangbow Newmai monitored the search and rescue operation the whole day on Monday and stayed till late evening at the site.

Earlier in the day, the minister visited two houses of the victim families and consoled bereaved families at Makhuam (Marangching) Part-4 and Part-5 and extend ed relief from his side.

He also assured that state government will provide Rs 5 lakh each to families of deceased civilians.

Minister Awangbow also stated that rescue operation will continue till all the victims are found.

He also appealed to the people of the state not to visit the site and to donate relief material through proper channels.

The minister personally reached the rescue site and instructed the security to focus on suspected sites where victims might be buried.

While seeking cooperation and support from all sections for success of the rescue operation, Awangbow also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah for their concerns and for providing assistance by sending NDRF personnel and required manpower.

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