Death toll rises to 42 and 20 missing due to landslide in Manipur, India

July 4. (EUROPA PRESS) –

At least 42 people have died and 20 are missing after heavy rains triggered a landslide near a railway line in the Noni district of Manipur in eastern India.

According to information collected by the newspaper ‘Hindusthan Samachar’, the landslide took place at midnight last Thursday in the Tupul construction camp, near a camp of the Territorial Army of the Indian Armed Forces.

The course of the Eje River, which flows through Tamenglong and Noni counties, was clogged due to landslides leading to a dam-like situation. Given this situation, the district judge also advised the population in general, especially children, not to go near the river bank, according to the aforementioned newspaper.

According to the Defense Planning Office in Guwahati, so far 27 bodies of members of the Army and 15 civilians have been found under the rubble.

Earlier in the day, a defense spokesman in Guwahati said the search operation is continuing despite adverse weather conditions due to heavy rain, the PTI news agency reported.