Manipur: 13 killed as landslide hits railway construction site, PM Narendra Modi reviews situation

As many as 13 persons were killed after a massive landslide struck near a railway construction camp in Manipur's Noney district, officials said.

Pic Courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed the landslide situation caused due to incessant rainfall in Manipur with Chief Minister N Biren Singh and assured full possible support from the central government. "Spoke to Manipur CM Shri @NBirenSinghJi and reviewed the situation due to a tragic landslide. Assured all possible support from the Centre. I pray for the safety of all those affected. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon," PM Modi tweeted. As many as 13 persons were killed after a massive landslide struck near a railway construction camp in Manipur's Noney district, officials told media persons today.

Spoke to Manipur CM Shri @NBirenSingh Ji and reviewed the situation due to a tragic landslide. Assured all possible support from the Centre. I pray for the safety of all those affected.

My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 30, 2022

"We`re working hard but because of rains and other factors, this happened. It is the main Tulum station where the train was supposed to stop. Maybe because of heavy ongoing work, some seismic disturbance may have taken place. 13 bodies have been taken out," said DGP P Doungel. So far, 19 people have been rescued and are being treated at Noney Army Medical unit. Evacuation of critically injured is in progress but bad weather and fresh landslides are hampering rescue operations, the CPRO said.

The North-East Frontier Railway CPRO said the landslide triggered by incessant rains caused damage to the Tupul station building of the ongoing Jiribam - Imphal new line project. "Landslide also stuck the track formation, camps of construction workers and rescue operations is in progress," the NF Railway CPRO said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to 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. Shah said rescue operations are underway with National Disaster Response Force personnel at the site of the incident which took place on Wednesday at midnight when the landslide hit the construction camp."Spoke to CM @NBirenSingh and @AshwiniVaishnaw 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. Two more teams are on their way to Tupul," Shah tweeted.

Meanwhile, Manipur CM visited Tupul to take stock of the unfortunate landslide situation and expressed gratitude to Shah for calling him to assess the situation and assured all possible assistance."Visited Tupul to take stock of unfortunate landslide situation. I`m thankful to Hon`ble HM Shri Amit Shah Ji for calling me to assess the situation and assured all possible assistance. A team of NDRF has already reached the site for the rescue operation," the Chief Minister tweeted.

Meanwhile, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh convened an emergency meeting to monitor the situation closely. "Called an emergency meeting to assess the situation of the landslide in Tupul today. The search and rescue operation are already underway. Let`s keep them in our prayers today. Ambulances along with doctors have also been dispatched to assist in the operation," Singh tweeted.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. "The available engineer plant equipment on site has been pressed into the rescue efforts," officials said. The injured individuals are being treated at Noney Army Medical unit."Evacuation of the critically injured personnel is in progress. The flow of Ijai river has been affected due to the landslide," said officials.Following the incidents, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh convened an emergency meeting to monitor the situation. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Zee News staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)