New Delhi, July 01, 2022 (PPI-OT):At least eight people have died and another 50 are feared to have been killed after a massive landslide hit the 107 Territorial Army (TA) camp in Noney district in the Indian state of Manipur. Seven of those dead were TA jawans and one was a Railways worker, officials said.

The district administration is in touch with national and state disaster management agencies for search, rescue and relief operations. Rescue workers battled heavy rains and inclement weather to pull out 19 survivors from the rubble.

“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 2am,” Haulianlal Guite, district magistrate of Noney, where the accident occurred, told Reuters news agency by telephone. The residents have been asked to stay alert for continuous rain, which may aggravate the situation. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh held an emergency meeting.

“Called an emergency meeting to assess the situation of the landslide in Tupul. The search and rescue operation are already underway. Let’s keep them in our prayers today. Ambulances along with doctors have also been dispatched to assist in the operation,” Singh tweeted.

Army helicopters were on standby and assisting in rescue operations at the site of the landslide, a statement from the Indian army said. “Army helicopters are on standby. The weather is very hostile and more landslides are hampering our rescue operations,” the statement said.

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