NEW DELHI, July 2: The death toll in the landslide at a railway construction site in Noney district in Manipur rose to 24, including 18 Territorial Army personnel, on Saturday while 38 people are still reported missing, officials said.
More teams were deployed at the site in Tupul to augment the search and rescue operations, they said. Army, Assam Rifles, Territorial Army, SDRF and NDRF are continuing the search operations at the site, a defence spokesperson in Guwahati said.
“Through Wall Radar is being successfully used, and a search and rescue dog is being employed to assist,” he said. So far, 13 Territorial Army personnel and five civilians have been safely rescued. Bodies of 18 Territorial Army personnel and six civilians were recovered, he said.
“Search for 12 missing Territorial Army personnel and 26 civilians continued,” he added. The bodies of 14 personnel, including a junior commissioned officer, were sent to their hometowns by two IAF aircraft and an Army helicopter, the spokesperson said.
The body of one personnel was sent to Kangpokpi district in Manipur by road. Full military honours were given to the deceased personnel at Imphal before sending the bodies to their destinations, the spokesperson said.
(Manas Dasgupta)
