The number of people from Assam who died in the landslide in Manipur has risen to nine, while at least 12 others are still missing following the tragic incident, officials informed on Monday.
A list of 26 people has been compiled by the state government who were present at the Tupul railway yard construction site in the Noney district of Manipur where the landslide occurred on June 29.
As many as 42 people have been confirmed to have lost their lives in the tragic incident, while 20 more are still missing. So far, 18 people have been rescued alive from the site.
Assam water resources minister Pijush Hazarika, who went to the site of the incident, told reporters, “We have names of 26 people from the state who were at that site. Among them, one was an Army jawan, and one a railway engineer; the rest were construction company workers.”
The cabinet minister has been camped in Manipur since Saturday to oversee search and rescue operations.
Meanwhile, five workers who were rescued alive flew back home with Hazarika today and were being taken to their native place in the state’s Morigaon district.
Hazarika said that the body of one of the workers, which was recovered from the rubble yesterday will be transported back, while mortal remains of the deceased from the state have already reached their native places where their last rites have also been held.
The minister further said that according to information received, another 12 people from Assam are still missing as several agencies are involved in search and rescue operations at the site of the incident.
The deputy commissioner of Morigaon district, P R Gharphalia said that the bodies of six victims have reached Kushtoli area under Lahorighat block, from where they came.
He informed that two bodies reached today morning and the last rites were performed soon after that. Four more bodies had arrived yesterday and were cremated that evening, Gharphalia added.
