SFs bid adieu to brave-hearts, search Ops continue
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 03 2022: Search operations by Indian Army, Assam Rifles, Territorial Army, SDRF and NDRF at the incident site at Makhuam village has been continuing despite adverse weather conditions owing to heavy rains and fresh landslides.

According to PRO (Defence), Through Wall Radar and search and rescue dogs are being employed to hasten the search operation.

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

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

They were paid full military honours by GOC Red Shield Division and IGAR (South) at Imphal in Sunday morning.

Similar befitting honours will be paid at respective home stations as well.

Relentless efforts to search for remaining seven missing Territorial Army personnel and 21 civilians will continue till the last individual is found, it added.

The wreath laying ceremony was organised by Army and Assam Rifles for seven mortal remains of soldiers of 107 Infantry Battalion (TA) at the Imphal Airport on Sunday.

In a release, PRO IGAR (S) informed that GOC Red Shield Division and IG Assam Rifles (South) laid the wreaths on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff; GOC-in-C Eastern Command and GOC Spear Corps.

The gathering paid their tribute to brave-hearts before the mortal remains moved to their respective native places by IAF aircraft.

On the other-hand, 86 battalion CRPF informed that its personnel are also involved in the search and rescue operation since day one of the massive landslide that hit Tupul Railway Station/Makhuam village on June 29.In a release, the 86 Bn said that A/86 Bn CRPF deployed at Noney town, which is about 10 km southeast from incident site, and B/86 Bn CRPF deployed at Nungtek, about 8 km SE from incident site, on receiving the news of the landslide on June 29, rushed to the incident site and carried out rescue operation with Territorial Army.

Since the landslide caused blockade of Ijei River and created a dam-like storage condition in the morning, the B/86 Bn CRPF camp had to be shifted in view of the possibility of the stored water wreaking havoc in the low lying areas of Noney district.

However, a team each of B/86 Bn and A/86 Bn CRPF under command of deputy commandant Manoj Singh and assistant commandant W Longvah, joined in the search & rescue operation being carried out by the district administration and the TA/AR teams from day one, he added.

DIG Range Imphal CRPF RS Rautela along with commandant AOL of 86 Bn CRPF Deepak and deputy commandant-86 Bn visited the incident site on July 2 to supervise the search and rescue operation, informed the commandant AOL.

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