Devastating Marangching landslide of June 29: 56 bodies retrieved so far; search called off
Memorial site for victims in the pipeline; MoU inked
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, July 20 2022: A Memorandum of Under-standing (MoU) has been signed between North Frontier Railways, Noney district administration and Makhuam Village Authority at the Chief Minister's Secretariat today to address the issues arising out of the massive landslide that occurred at Marangching on June 29 last even as the search and rescue operation closed after 21 days.

Reportedly, 56 bodies have been retrieved so far while five are still missing and ex-gratia would be paid to the respective families of the missing persons after observing necessary enquiry and formalities which would take another 30-35 days.

The MoU was signed by Chief Engineer of North Frontier Railway (NFR) Sandeep Sharma, Noney Deputy Commissioner Haulianlal Guite and chairman of Makhuam Village Authority Lanranglung Gondaimei in the presence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Relief and Disaster Management -Minister Awangbow Newmai and Chairman of Hill Area Committee Diganglung Gangmei.

As per the terms of the MoU, the Railways is to provide contractual employ-ment to the next of kins of the landslide victims until engaging them permanently and assess the extent of the damage done by the landslide along with the district administration concerned and provide adequate com-pensation.

The MoU also advised the Railways to hold extensive discussion with IIT Guwahati, Manipur University and other institutions to monitor the hill slopes along the Imphal-Jiribam road where railways project is being taken up and reimburse for the expenses incurred in performing last rites of the deceased and in cleaning the debris by the Makhuam Village Authority.

Further, the MoU agreed to provide for the education of the three children orphaned by the landslide until graduation.

At the occasion, N Biren Singh thanked all villagers and CSOs involved in the search and rescue operation at Marangching.

Informing that altogether 56 mortal remains of the landslide victims have been retrieved so far while five are still missing as the Gov-ernment has calculated the number of people swept away by the debris to be 61, the Chief Minister said and recalled, that 18 persons were rescued on June 30 out of the 79 affected by the landslide.

Reportedly, the five miss-ing persons are one Territorial Army, three villagers and one VSC worker and ex-gratia would be paid to their respective families after observing necessary enquiry and.

formalities which would take another 30-35 days.

The Chief Minister said that the Government has de-cided to close the rescue operation after thorough discussion with all stakeholders, however, individual efforts to retrieve the missing properties, machinery, etc could be carried on by any organization or agency.

A memorial site for all those killed in the landslide will be set up, said the Chief Minister and added that the site however will be decided later after discussion with the village authority and the Railways.

Before signing the MoU, N Biren, Singh held a meeting with all stakeholders including Relief and Disaster Management Minister Awangbow Newmai, Chair-man of Hill Area Committee Diganglung Gangmei, Addi-tional Chief Secretary MH Khan and representatives of Makhuam Village Authority along with other officials concerned to discuss the de-mands raised by Makhuam Village Authority.

It may be mentioned that over 700 personnel from various organisations' were engaged in the search and rescue operation (S&R) .

The Chief Minister had also announced to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured persons.

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