Tamenglong, May 07 2009: Tamenglong came to a stand still today when the tragic news of an Imphal-Tamenglong passenger bus meeting an accident that left 11 passengers killed and 49 others injured reached the town.

The incident occurred at around 7 am today along Tamenglong Khongshang Road at Sangrungpang, situated 21 kms from Tamenglong Police Station towards Kaikao village.

The passenger bus named Sai Baba bearing registration no MN01-1748 and belonging to one Nongmaithem Bhogen of Heigrujam was coming towards Imphal when its brake failed and fell into a gorge around 200 feet deep.

According to SP of Tamenglong, after the driver lost control of the steering, the bus ran straight for some distance before it rammed into a corner and fell rolling into the gorge and engulfing in flames instantly on hitting the ground.

The bus had departed from Tamenglong at around 5.30 am.

In all, six passengers died on the spot and their bodies charred completely while five others passed away either at the hospital or on the way to the hospital.

Identify of those killed in the incident have been established as Meiriangliu Gonmei (46) of Kaikao village, Namdisinliu (40) of Tamenglong Ward no.4, Alet Samper of Dolang Chiru, Kadichang (32) of Tamenglong Ward no.3, Lubuiliu of Longjon village, Sk Gaimunliu of Noney Ward no.1, Chingthuanliu (25) of Longjon village, Ngamsiliu (40) of Longjon village, Guilangliu of Longjon village, Achouba Singh (43) of Moirang but posted at 5th MR at Khongjaron and one year and eight months old baby boy D Mathai of Magulong village.

The death toll is likely to be increased as the condition of some of the injured passengers is stated to be critical.

Out of the 49 injured passengers who were registered at the district hospital, 22 of them have been evacuated and referred to RIMS Hospital at Imphal for further examination and necessary treatment.

Among the injured who have been referred to RIMS include the driver of the ill-fated bus Yumjao Singh (52) of Kwakeithel, Imphal and handyman Gainingjuan of Tuangtao village.

According to SP Tamenglong, among the injured who have been referred to Imphal, the condition of three of them are very serious.

On hearing the new of the incident, activities in the town came to a halt with thousands of people gathering at the hospital to find out the identities of the victims.

On hearing the news, local MLA of 52-Tamenglong AC Khangthuanang Panmei rushed to the district and took first hand account of the incident that has shocked one and all in the town.

He also visited the families of the victims in the town area.

To oversee the situation, Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong district Jacintha Lazarus, IAS and SDO Tamenglong C Arthur, IAS also personally visited the site of the accident and took active part in transporting the injured passengers to the hospital.

Town Churches Union (TCU), Tamenglong and Zeliangrong social organisations like Zeliangrong Union, Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Students' Union Zeliangrong Youth Front and Zeliangrong Women Union also extended their help in collecting monetary assistance to meet the medical expenses and traditional shawls from the public for covering the bodies of the deaths and the injured.

A sum of Rs 1 lakhs and 92 traditional shawls have been reported collected.

Youths from Kaikao village and Sangrungpang village assisted in evacuating the passengers trapped in the mangled up remnants of the charred ill-fated bus.

One Dr Sunil Kamei, posted as MO in-charge of Nungba Community Health Centre also rushed to Tamenglong and helped his counterparts at the district hospital in looking after the medical needs of the injured passengers.

Contribution made by the personnel of 11 Assam Rifles and 5th Manipur Rifles was also worth mentioning.

While 11 Assam Rifles send a medical team to the accident site and provided ambulance to transport the injured to Imphal, 5th Manipur Rifles despatched its jawans to help in carrying the injured besides arranging vehicles for their transportation.

In a statement, PRO Defence Wing said troops if 11 Assam Rifles reacted immediately and rushed emergency medical assistance to the spot and rescued the injured passengers and provided them with necessary emergency and medical first aid.

The prompt action and first aid given by the troops of Red Shield Division saved a number of precious lives, the PRO claimed.

Volunteers of Bharat Scouts and Guides also extended help in their own capacity by controlling the crowd in and around the hospital.

Meanwhile, TCU, Tamenglong, in a release, has thanked all the public for their selfless contribution.

In a separate release, People's Democratic Alliance (PDA), Tamenglong District unit informed that Outer Manipur sitting MP Mani Charenamei has donated a sum of Rs 10,000 to the relief committee and a team of PDA led by its president visited the accident site this afternoon.

On the other hand, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Outer Manipur MP Mani Cheranamei and Department of Political Science, Manipur University have expressed shock over the tragic incident.

In a statement, MPCC president Gaikhangam said death of 11 passengers and causing injuries to over 46 others was indeed sad and prayed for peaceful repose of the departed souls and speedy recovery of the injured victims.

Expressing condolences to the bereaved families and praying for speedy recovery of the injured, Mani Charenamei has extended his gratitude to the people of Sangrungpang village, the district administration, the Central Security Forces, the doctors, nurses and every one who rendered their services in saving the injured and retrieving the bodies of the deaths.

He also prayed to the Lord for giving courage to the bereaved families to overcome their grief and pain.

The teachers and students of the Political Science Department of Manipur University have also mourned the untimely and sudden demise of one of the students of the Department in the same tragic incident.

According to a statement issued by head of the Department K Ibo Singh, Kadichang Pamei who was among those killed in the accident was students of MA fourth semester in the Department of Political Science.

Along with observing two-minute silence as mark of respect to the departed soul, the teachers and students of the Department also shared in the grief of the bereaved family, the statement added.

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