Six jawans killed in Manipur landslide

IMPHAL, July 7 – At least six Manipur Rifles (MR) and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel were killed and more than seven others injured when an landslide struck a bus carrying IRB and MR personnel near Sinam village in Manipur’s Imphal-Jiribam Highway on Wednesday.

The incident took place when an landslide hit the bus carrying 24 personnel of IRB and MR along with a Maruti Gypsy and a Mini-truck, near Sinam village, 35 km west of the State capital around 2.30 pm today.

The security team were on their way to escort back the goods laden trucks from Jiribam town which is about 225 kms west of here and were supposed to return on Thursday.

“Six personnel including a Havildar were killed during the incident after the landslide hit the bus,” police sources said.

“The seven injured personnel have been evacuated to hospitals in Imphal.” The dead jawans include two from 5 battalion of MR, one each from 2nd and 8th MR, 5th and 6th IRB.

Meanwhile, Army spokesman Colonel Ajay Chowdhry of the 57 Mountain Division when contacted on phone said that the personnel who were trapped inside the bus were rescued by 10 battalion Assam Rifles troops during operations carried out soon after the incident.

The death toll could rise further as the condition of three injured personnel were serious.

Landslides are a common feature in the Northeastern hilly State during rainy season. Recently another important life line of the State – NH 39 was also disconnected for sometime due to heavy landslide at Maram, 80 km north of here.