Manipur landslide buries border village; 20 dead

Imphal, August 1 

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.

The death toll is likely to increase as many people are still missing, officials here said. An official of the state disaster management wing said 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.

 “According to the preliminary report, 20 persons  died in the landslips. The total numbers of dead and injured from these areas are yet to known,” the official said. The official said the exact number of casualties would be known after the rescue work is complete. — IANS