After Day 4 of search operations 20 still reported missing
Number of bodies recovered now stand at 42 with recovery of eight more
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 03 2022: Another eight bodies were recovered from the debris of the Marangching landslide on day 4 of the intensive search operation that has been launched.

Of the eight, one of the deceased was an officer holding the rank of Lt Colonel.

With the recovery of eight more, the total number of bodies which have been retrieved so far now stands at 42.Another 20 persons are still missing while earlier 18 persons including civilians were rescued alive.

Sources informed The Sangai Express that the eight bodies were recovered from amongst the mud and thick sludges, made worse by the rain.

Of the eight bodies recovered, six were TA personnel including the Lt Colonel.

One was a VSC while the identities of three other victims are yet to be established.

After Day 4 of search operations 20 still reported missing

The bodies recovered today are identified as Lt Colonel Kapil Dev Burman (43) from Durg district of Chhatisgarh, Havildar Deepkar Pradhan (40) of Darjeeling district in West Bengal, Havildar Chandan Gurung (42) also from Darjeeling, Rifleman Pritam Kumar Dutta from Murshidabad of West Bengal, Devajit Phukan (VSC worker) of Morigaon in Assam.

The identities of three others are yet to be established till the time this report was filed late in the evening today.

On June 30, the first day of the search operation, 8 bodies were recovered while 18 persons were rescued alive.

26 bodies were recovered on July 1 and July 2 and today, that is July 3, eight more bodies were recovered to take the total number of bodies recovered to 42 .

Despite the adverse weather conditions including heavy rain and fresh landslides, the Army, Assam Rifles, Territorial Army, NDRF and SDRF continued the search for missing persons at Tupul following the tragic landslide.

Through Wall Radar and search and rescue dogs are being used to help in the search operation, said a statement issued by PIB (Defence Wing) .

Besides the 13 Territorial Army personnel and 5 civilians who have been rescued, mortal remains of 23 Territorial Army personnel and 11 civilians have been recovered so far, added the statement.

The mortal remains of seven personnel of the Territorial Army were sent to their respective home stations by an IAF aircraft and an Indian Army helicopter to Kolkata, Bagdogra and Agartala.

The mortal remains were paid full military honours by the GOC Red Shield Division and IGAR (South) at Imphal today morning.

Efforts to trace the remaining Territorial Army personnel and civilians will continue till the 'last individual is found', added PIB.

Even as the search operation is underway, the 86 Bn of the CRPF has also been taking a major role in the search operation at Tupul.

In a statement the 2IC of 86 Bn CRPF said that personnel of A/86 Bn CRPF deployed at Noney PS (20 kms form incident site) and B/86 CRPF deployed at Nungtek (8 kms from incident site) rushed to the site of the tragedy and carried out rescue operation along with personnel of Territorial Army.

As the landslide had blocked the flow of Ijei river a dam like storage was created in the middle of the river and this compelled the B/86 Bn CRPF to vacate their camp location at Nungtek.

This however did not deter the personnel from joining the rescue operation as personnel of A/86 CRPF under the command of Deputy Commdt Sh Manoj Singh and Assistant Commdt W Longvah from day one.

DIG Range Imphal CRPF RS Rautela along with 2IC (Commdt-AOL) 86 Bn and Tonglenlal Haopkip Dy Commdt of 86 Bn visited the incident site on July 2 to supervise the rescue and search operations, added the statement.