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The Centre Sunday directed NDRF to move forces to Manipur immediately for rescue and relief operations in landslide-affected areas where at least 20 people have lost their lives.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has spoken to Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh over phone and assured him all central assistance to deal with the situation arising out of the massive landslides in Chandel district.
“We have directed the National Disaster Response Force to immediately move forces to Manipur for rescue and relief operations. They will start their work early morning tomorrow,” Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said.
Rijiju is expected to visit Manipur on Monday to take stock of the situation there. Superintendent of Police of Chandel district Herojit Singh said 20 people were killed in the landslide at Zoumoal village under Khangbarol sub-division.
At least 20 people were killed and several houses swept away as a landslide, caused by heavy rain, devastated a village in Manipur’s Chandel district bordering Myanmar on Saturday, officials said.
After 28 days of curfew & lock-down in #Manipur Northeast #India~now compounded by flash floods inundating many areas pic.twitter.com/ao52dslF63
— Binalakshmi Nepram (@BinaNepram) July 31, 2015
House collapsed in Chandel, Manipur due to flash floods. https://t.co/FMPfcvgnMl
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 2, 2015
The death toll is likely to increase, officials here said adding that many people still missing.
An official of the state disaster management wing said that the tragedy took place after a massive landslide hit Joumol village, about 170 km south of Imphal.
“Assam Rifles jawans and villagers from the nearby areas have rushed to the spot immediately after the disaster and rescued many people from the area,” the official said.
Many houses of Hollenjang, Wayang and Tuitung villages were also swept away by the colossal landslides.
NDRF teams have been rushed to the landslide affected areas of Chandel district. I assured the Manipur CM of all help from the Centre.
— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) August 1, 2015
Spoke to CM Manipur Shri Okram Ibobi Singh who apprised me of the situation post the land slide in Joupi area of Chandel district.
— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) August 1, 2015
“According to the preliminary report, 20 people died in the landslips. The total numbers of dead and injured from these areas are yet to known,” the official said adding that the exact number of casualties would be known after the rescue work is complete.
Meanwhile, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi Saturday night expressed deep sorrow at the loss of lives in the landslide in Manipur and asked the state government to ensure speedy relief and adequate compensation.
Concerned over the havoc caused to life and property in Manipur, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, the Congress leaders asked the partymen and women to extend every possible help to the affected people.
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Senior officials of the Chandel district along with para-military and State Disaster Response Force personnel have rushed to the spot to supervise the rescue and related works.
Vehicular movements also become restricted due to several landslides en route to the accident site.
Manipur along with other northeastern states has been witnessing heavy rains due to cyclone ‘Komen’ in the last three days.
The rains and fast moving water have washed away around five bridges in Thoubal and Chandel districts. Low lying areas of many Manipur districts along with agricultural fields in the four valley and Thoubal district are flooded. The National Highway along India-Myanmar border also inundated due to the floods.
Many areas in and around Imphal and its outskirts have also submerged.
Almost all the important rivers including Imphal, Iril, Nambul and Kongba rivers which pass the greater Imphal area comprising Imphal West and Imphal East districts are flowing above the danger mark.
Several hundred people residing on the riverbanks have started moving to safer places.
Flood-affected villagers, however, alleged that the state government has not done enough to help them.
(With Inputs From Agencies)