Massive landslide hits Tupul Railway Station, leaves at least 45 missing, India

A massive landslide hit Manipur’s Noney district late Wednesday, June 29, 2022, extensively damaging local topography and completely blocking the Iljei River.

The slide also impacted the Tupul Railway Station construction site, killing at least 7 people and leaving 45 others missing. The station is located roughly 15 km (9.3 miles) SE of the town of Noney.

A company of the Territorial Army was stationed there as protection for a railway line being constructed from Jiribam to the state’s capital, Imphal.¹

Indian Army said full-scale rescue operations are in progress, adding that 13 individuals have been saved until 05:30 LT, June 30. Unfortunately, poor weather conditions and fresh landslides are hindering SAR operations.

“In all, there were about 81 people. The chances of survival of the remaining 55 people are very thin considering the fact that the landslide occurred around 2 a.m.,” Haulianlal Guite, district magistrate of Noney district in Manipur, where the accident occurred, told Reuters by telephone.²

The district administration has indicated the situation could worsen and urged people to evacuate the area.

“The flow of the Ijei river (which passes through the Noney district) has also been obstructed by the debris, creating a dam-like storage condition which if breached will wreak havoc to the low lying areas of Noney District Head Quarter,” Noney Deputy Commissioner Haulianlal Guite said.

References:

¹ 7 dead, at least 45 Army personnel, civilians missing in massive Manipur landslide – The Pring – June 30, 2022

² Seven dead, 55 feared dead in massive eastern Indian landslide – Reuters – June 30, 2022