Imphal, Jun 30: At least seven persons were killed and 13 others injured, after a massive landslide struck near a railway construction camp in Noney district, in Manipur on Thursday (Jun 30). Union Home Minister Amit Shah said rescue operations are underway with National Disaster Response Force personnel at the site of the incident which took place on Wednesday midnight when the landslide hit the construction camp.
The North East Frontier Railway CPRO said the landslide triggered by incessant rains caused damage to Tupul station building of ongoing Jiribam - Imphal new line project. The NF Railway CPRO said, "Landslide also stuck the track formation, camps of construction workers and a rescue operations is in progress." So far, 19 people have been rescued and are being treated at Noney Army Medical unit. According to the CPRO, evacuation of critically injured in progress but bad weather and fresh landslides are hampering rescue operations.
Home Minister Shah also spoke to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. He said that two more teams of NDRF are on their way to Tupul. Taking to twitter Shah said, "Spoke to CM N Biren Singh and Ashwini Vaishnaw in the wake of a landslide near the Tupul railway station in Manipur. Rescue operations are in full swing. A team of NDRF has already reached the spot and joined the rescue operations. 2 more teams are on their way to Tupul."
The incident took place on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday near the company location of 107 Territorial Army of Indian Army deployed near Tupul Railway Station in Noney district for protection of the under-construction railway line from Jiribam to Imphal. According to an official statement, full-scale rescue operations are in progress by columns of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles. It said, "The available engineer plant equipment on site has been pressed into the rescue efforts." The injured individuals are being treated at Noney Army Medical unit.