The death toll in the tragic accident where a massive landslide hit a NF Railway work site and an Indian Army company at Tupul in Noney district, Manipur rose to 13, as five more bodies were recovered by the joint rescue team on Friday, official sources said.
Search and rescue operation by a joint team of the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, Territorial Army, SDRF and NDRF continued at the incident site at Tupul, Manipur, and 10 columns have been pressed into the search operation, a release stated.
WATCH: Massive Landslide at NF Railway Worksite in Manipur
According to NDRF, five more bodies have been recovered since early morning till 12.30 pm, taking the death toll to 13. It stated that 18 of the rescued were critically injured, while 50 others were still missing. As many as 81 people were affected by the landslide, it stated.
It also said that the rescue operation recovered one body of a civilian at 11.30 am, one identified as Rifleman Tek Bahadur Thapa at 12.25 pm, and another identified as Upendra Kumar (Surveyor) of BIPL at 10.50 am.
WATCH: Tupul landslide
Early in the day, two bodies of the Territorial Army personnel were recovered, Army sources said in a release. It stated that 13 Territorial Army personnel and five civilians were safely rescued, while bodies of nine Territorial Army personnel and one civilian in total have been recovered. Search for missing personnel will continue throughout during the day, according to the release.
A synergised and joint operational task force is coordinating the efforts to remove the mud and boulders. A Thorough Wall Radar is also being inducted by air to detect the presence of personnel buried in the debris. A search and rescue dog is also being inducted, the release stated.
The release further stated that early Friday GOC in C Eastern Command, Lt Gen RP Kalita met the six injured. Territorial Army personnel, who were initially evacuated to Liemakong Military Hospital on 30 June, are now being provided medical aid at the Assam Rifles Hospital at Mantripukhri.
On Thursday, eight bodies (seven jawans of the 107 Territorial Army and a labour of the railway (VCH)) were recovered, while 13 others rescued sustained injuries and 23 Territorial Army were missing in the landslide. The eight bodies are kept at JNIMS morgue.
Several people were still feared trapped in the debris of the massive landslide that hit the compound housing the NF railway workers and an Indian Army company at Marangching in Noney district early Thursday.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh visited the landslide-hit area on Thursday and assessed the situation, He also announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to the next of kin of those killed in the landslide and Rs 50,000 to the injured, and conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family members. The state will also bear all the expenses including medical treatment etc of the injured persons, he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also assured all help and support from the Centre to the landslide victims and all affected in the landslide.
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