221 killed in floods, landslides in northeastern India

WORLD, Jul. 04 (YPA) – The death toll in the massive landslide in India’s northeastern state of Manipur rose to 221, including 27 military personnel, The Quint newspaper reported on Monday.

Soil blocks and rocks collapsed near the railway station under construction, and in the area is the headquarters of the 107th Company of the Indian Ground Forces, according to the paper.

Some engineers, workers and many local residents were also among the dead, the paper said. Twenty people, including three soldiers, are missing.

The rescue operations continue at the scene, but were being carried out with difficulty due to very heavy rain and the risk of new landslides.

“The number of people affected as a result the massive landslide hit  700,000, out of a population of 1,618 villages,” said a source in the regional emergency directorate.

The source said the natural disaster caused a complete or partial destruction of 138,000 homes.

He noted that the city of Silchar suffered the most because 90% of its land became completely submerged under water as a result of the collapse of the dam in the area.

E.M