River sweeps away two women, search on for bodies
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, October 25 2022: In a tragic incident amid torrential rains, two women were swept away while crossing a swollen river at Poi village in northern Ukhrul on Monday evening.

The two victims have been identified as RS Ngamreila (30), wife of RS Varechung, and RK Ramreila (35), wife of RK Mathotmi, both from Poi village.

Sources said that the tragic incident occurred around 4:50 pm on Monday when the two women were crossing a stream called Tholiru near Challou River which was swollen due to continuous heavy rains since Sunday night.

The two women had gone to the field for harvesting paddy crop and were returning home along with a few others.

However, the two victims had gone ahead of the others and crossed the stream, sources said.

It is learnt that there was no suspension bridge over the stream despite the locals frequently crossing the stream to reach the field.

On learning of the tragic incident, the locals of Poi village immediately conducted a search to rescue the victims till late evening on Monday but could not succeed due to the surging water level triggered by continuous rainfall.

On Tuesday, the inhabitants of neighbouring villages launched massive search operations in their respective areas.

Later, they were joined by a combined team of SDRF and NDRF who reached the spot despite the inclement weather.

However, there was no report of recovery of the bodies till the time of filing this report.

Since Tuesday morning, people from neighbouring villages like Tusom CV, New Tusom, Tusom Khullen, Wahong Khullen, Wahong Khunou, Challou and Kuingai launched search operations in their respective areas to trace the victims' bodies.

Sources said that the rising water level due to continued rains had caused disruptions in the search operations.

Meanwhile, BJP Manipur Pradesh spokesperson MK Preshow Shimray has written to the Chief Minister requesting to dispatch some state forces/machineries to trace the missing women and assist the their families on humanitarian grounds.

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