Manipur landslide: Death toll rises to 34, 28 still missing

The death toll in the Manipur landslide rose to 34 on Sunday. At least 28 people are still missing.

The death toll in the landslide at a railway construction site in Manipur's Noney district has risen to 34 after more bodies of Army personnel and civilians were recovered from under the debris. Search operations at the Manipur landslide site continue despite adverse weather conditions.

At least 28 people are still missing after a massive landslide hit the Tupul yard railway construction camp on the night of June 29. Out of these, seven are Army personnel and 21 are civilians.

Of the 80 people who were present at the affected site when the landslide took place, 18 have been safely rescued. Of these, five are civilians.

The Indian Army, Assam Rifles, Territorial Army, SDRF and NDRF are leading the search and rescue operation. The administration has also cautioned civilians living in downstream areas of the river to take precautions and evacuate due to the likelihood of breach in the dam created on the river by the landslide.

The operation was disrupted owing to heavy rain and fresh landslides last night, a statement from the Army said. A search and rescue dog has been deployed to speed up the rescue operation.

Through-Wall radars are also being used for the detection and location of static and moving targets, especially human beings behind walls.

Over 30 excavators are being used to clear the debris which blocked the Ijai river, forming dam-like storage and threatening the people living nearby. Earth-movers have been brought in to remove the debris, and create a channel to allow the flow of water from there, officials said.