Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: The Manipur government has deployed a team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to Churachandpur district to intensify efforts to locate Lamboikim, a 13-year-old girl who was swept away by flash flood waters on June 11.
The incident occurred in the Tuibong Sub-Division after heavy rainfall triggered sudden flooding across several areas. Lamboikim, a Class VIII student of Radhakrishnan Foundation School and a resident of K. Khomunnom village, was reportedly caught in strong currents and carried away by the floodwaters.
In the days following the tragedy, local youth volunteers, civil society organisations and community groups conducted extensive searches along the Tuitha River in an attempt to trace the missing student. However, continuous rain, swollen waterways and limited rescue resources hampered the operation.
Acting on a request submitted by the Sub-Divisional Officer of Tuibong and endorsed by the Deputy Commissioner and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the state government dispatched an SDRF team from Imphal to support the search mission.
Upon arrival, the rescue personnel launched operations at “Zero Point,” the location where the girl was last seen before being swept away. The team, led by Havildar Riyajuddin, has been using inflatable boats and specialised rescue equipment to comb river channels and flood-affected stretches in the area.
Officials said the search operation is being carried out on a war footing despite challenging weather conditions. Rescue teams are focusing on areas downstream where the victim may have been carried by the strong currents.
Expressing the team’s commitment to the mission, Havildar Riyajuddin said rescue personnel would continue the operation until the victim is located and recovered.
Authorities have appealed for public cooperation as the search continues, while local residents remain hopeful that the ongoing efforts will bring closure to the grieving family.