At least 24 people, mostly soldiers, have died in a massive landslide triggered by torrential rains at an Army camp in the Indian state of Manipur, officials said on Saturday.
The landslide occurred late on Wednesday night at the Territorial Army camp near an under-construction Metro railway site in the northeastern Indian state's Noney district.
"So far, 24 bodies have been recovered by rescuers from the site. Of the deceased, 18 were soldiers and six civilians working at the construction site," a senior police officer told the local media.Some 18 people have also been pulled out alive from under the debris, he added. "The search and rescue operation by the armed forces is still on. Some 38 people are still missing."
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for the family of the victims, after visiting the disaster site. All the deceased soldiers of the Territorial Army will be cremated with full military honours, an Indian Army spokesperson told the media.
The Territorial Army is a volunteer reserve force of the Indian Army.
