CM moots relook at rail line construction
'Through wall imaging radar' used in rescue operations
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 01 2022: Chief Minister N Biren Singh said the state government will ask railway authorities to reassess the railway project following the massive landslide in Manipur's Noney district, considering the soil condition in the state's hilly regions.

In an exclusive interview with EastMojo, Chief Minister Biren said, "This massive landslide at Noney district is the worst natural disaster.

Rescue operations are going on in full swing, but we have not been able to reach the spot due to continuous rains and landslides.

The NDRF, SDRF and army personnel have tried to reach some part of the area since yesterday and recovered eight bodies and rescued 18 people.

Nine more bodies have been recovered today.

More than 50 people are still missing".

The chief minister also thanked Prime Minister Modi for personally reviewing the entire situation of the state.

Biren said he believed the landslide would delay the task of railways arriving in the state capital by 2013."Ma nipur's soil quality is very soft.

Since such as disaster has taken place, the railway authority should relook and reinvestigate as far the construction in the area is concerned," he told EastMojo.

Biren stressed that for now, however, all focus would be on rescue operations.

CM Biren visited the Tupul Railway Construction Camp in Noney district where the unfortunate landslide had occurred leaving several casualties, for the second time on Friday and personally reviewed the rescue operation being carried out at the site.

Earlier on Thursday, the chief minister visited the landslide area to take stock of the situation.

Briefing the media, Biren termed the massive landslide as one of the worst incidents happened in the state, adding that 81 persons have been affected, out of which 18 persons have been rescued.

He continued that the rescue operation team consisting of Manipur Police personnel, NDRF, SRDF and Army personnel recovered 8 more bodies on Friday, in addition to 8 bodies which were recovered on Thursday.

Due to the soft condition of the soil, road to the actual area of landslide couldn't be restored, he said, stating that the state government has put all efforts using possible manpower and machines to recover the missing persons.

Biren informed that an equipment (through wall radar system) has been brought from Ladakh by the Army to locate of the bodies.

CM Biren was accompanied by works minister Govindas Konthoujam, relief & disaster management minister Awangbow Newmai, social welfare minister Heikham Dingo, transport minister Khasim Vashum, Hill Areas Committee chairman and Nungba MLA Diganglung Gangmei, Keirao MLA Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei, Tamenglong MLA Janghemlung Panmei, chief secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar and other senior civil and police officials among others.

"Heavy machineries along with 'Through Wall Imaging Radar' have been deployed to expedite the operation", Biren informed.

'Through Wall Imaging Radar' is a device developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in India.

Through Wall Imaging Radar (TWIR) is a sensor used for detection and location of static and moving targets, especially human beings behind walls.

Through-Wall radar imaging (TWRI) is a viable technology for providing high quality imagery of enclosed structures.

TWRI makes use of electromagnetic waves below the S-band to penetrate through building wall materials.

The indoor scene can be illuminated from each antenna, and be reconstructed using the data from the receive antennas.

Due to the "see"-through ability, TWRI has attracted much attention in the last decade with a variety of important civilian and military applications.

For instance, this technology is employed for surveillance and detection of humans and interior objects in urban environments, and for search and rescue operations in military situations.

A joint operational task force is coordinating efforts to remove the thick mud and debris from the landslide hit area in Noney district.

Due to incessant heavy rain for last few days, the hillock adjacent to the Tupul station yard gave away and came down on the under-construction station yard.

The under construction Tupul station building, track formation and camps of construction workers got damaged as.

a result of the massive landslide.

The landslide also struck the company location of 107 Territorial Army of Indian Army deployed near Tupul Railway Station in Noney district of Manipur for protection of under construction railway line from Jiribam to Imphal.

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