Guwahati: The death toll in the landslide that occurred at a railway construction site in Manipur’s Noney district increased to 24 on Saturday with the recovery of eight more bodies.
Defence officials said at least 38 people still missing.
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However, the exact number of the missing persons could not be confirmed, the initial report suggests around 56, including five villagers, railway officials, TA personnel and laborers.
More teams were pressed into service at the site in Tupul to augment the search and rescue operations, they said.
Army, Assam Rifles, Territorial Army, SDRF and NDRF are continuing the search operations at the site, a defence spokesperson in Guwahati said.
“Through Wall Radar is being successfully used, and a search and rescue dog is being employed to assist,” he said.
So far, 13 Territorial Army personnel and five civilians have been safely rescued. Bodies of 18 Territorial Army personnel and six civilians were recovered, the official said.
“Search for 12 missing Territorial Army personnel and 26 civilians continued,” he added.
The bodies of 14 personnel, including a junior commissioned officer, were sent to their hometowns by two IAF aircraft and an Army helicopter, the spokesperson said.
The body of one personnel was sent to Kangpokpi district in Manipur by road.
He said that full military honours were given to the deceased personnel at Imphal before sending the bodies to their destinations.