IMPHAL, Mar 27: At least 22 persons have been killed and more than 30 sustained injuries in three motor accidents that occurred on Imphal-Dimapur highway and Imphal-Jiribam highway today.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Biren has assigned a Ministerial team to make spot enquiries of the tragic accidents and visit injured victims undergoing treatment at different hospitals.
The Chief Minister has also announced ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased victims, Rs 50,000 each to victims who sustained serious injuries and Rs 30,000 to victims who sustained simple injuries.
Tragedy struck an inter-State bus with registration number MN01-4 -A – 9503 at around 3.30 am today when the driver lost control of the vehicle and it fell into Likhori River between Maram and Makhan, Senapati district under Mao police station along Imphal-Dimapur highway.
The ill-fated bus was coming from Dimapur toward Imphal with passengers on board.
Six persons died on the spot and six others who sustained critical injuries later succumbed to their injuries on the way to Imphal hospitals and during treatment.
Soon after the accident, a team of 36 Assam Rifles personnel posted near the accident site rushed to the spot and started evacuation of people caught inside/under the bus.
The injured persons were first taken to AR unit hospital for treatment and later taken toward Imphal for further treatment.
Out of the 12 deceased victims, 11 have been identified as Thangjam Bikram (30) s/o Th Mani of Yurembam Makha Leikai, Sapam Dipu (21) s/o Sapam Brojendro of Sapam Mamang Leikai, Thangchungaung Haokip (26) s/o Chingzalam Haokip of Sangaikot village, Sachin Poudiyal (20) s/o Dilip Poudiyal of Charhajari village, Md Robiul Awal (CRPF personnel), Morang Khulpuwa (45) s/o Kh Merungkham of Koijam village, Tengnoupal, Ranjit Das (62) s/o Taruni Mohan Das of Masjid Road, Paona Bazar, Suprabha Das w/o Ranjit Das of Masjid Road, Paona Bazar, Ananda Raj (34) s/o Somchanam Raj of Moreh Ward No 3, Safique Ahmad (19) s/o Md Rafik Ahmad of Lilong Haoreibi Makha Leikai and Suresh Bista (23) s/o Dabiram Bista of Leimakhong Chingmang.
Thangjam Bikram was said to be an Assam Rifles jawan posted at Jaluki, Nagaland.
Family members have claimed the dead bodies of some victims after post mortem at JNIMS while those which have not been claimed yet have been deposited at the morgues of RIMS and JNIMS for post mortem and identification.
Injured victims of the Maram accident have been admitted at JNIMS and RIMS. Some of them are said to be in serious conditions.
The injured victims who are undergoing treatment at RIMS have been identified as Md Abdulqudus (19) s/o Md Kutub Ali of Kwakta Thiyam Leikai, Sanaton from Dimapur, Naorem Shamananda alias Roshan (23) s/o N Shyam of Shamurou Mamang Leikai, Sanathoi of Silchar, presently staying at Dimapur, Chongtham David (18) s/o Ch Tomba of Khongjom Sapam Mayai Leikai, Md Sarojkhan (19) s/o Md Ibothem of Kwakta Ward No 2, Takhellambam Momocha (29) s/o T Ibochouba of Wangkhei, A Ibomcha from Nagaland, H Gavaskar (18) s/o Deben of Khongjom Sapam Leikai, TS Shominlon Haokip (25) s/o TS Holkhosai of Pallel Molnom, Nitesh K K (29 Assam Rifles jawan), Robert Singson (21) s/o Litkholar of New Bolzang village, Churachandpur and A Bobby (37) s/o A Ibotombi of Kairang Mamang Leikai.
Those undergoing treatment at JNIMS have been identified as Mahananda Taparia (50) of Borpetta Assam, Maibam Prem (18) s/o Kesho of Poirou Khongjil, S Arunkumar (18) s/o Rabi of Wangjing Awang Leikai Heitupokpi, L James alias Thoiba (18) s/o Nimai of Khangabok Awang Leikai, Anupal Prasad (38) s/o Rajmandal Prasad of Masjid Road, Paona Bazar, K Korounganba (21) s/o Manglem of Yairipok Angtha, Samuel S Guite (23) s/o Paukam Guite of Tuitenjam village, Lamthelbel (18) s/o Paolun of Chingkot village, Churachandpur, Y Johnson (25) s/o Y Khomdon of Wangjing Cherapur, Rejina (31) w/o Solomon of Moreh Ward No 3, L Niranjoy (37) s/o Ranjit of Khurai Chaithabi Leirak, Solomon Raju of Moreh Ward No 3, KS Wungam Shem (19) s/o KS Akjhar of Konung Mamang, Th Premanda (23) s/o Dharma of Andro Bazar, S Ajit (22) s/o Achoubi of Mantripukri Lamlongei and Rocky alias Superman (Assam Rifles Jawan) from Luwangshangbam Mamang Leikai.
The second accident occurred along Imphal-Jiribam highway, about one Km away from Irang River toward Khongsang in which nine persons including two women were killed while six others were seriously injured.
According to a police source, the accident happened today at around 12.45 am when a Cruiser jeep carrying passengers fell down a deep gorge after the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle.
The Cruiser was heading towards Imphal from Jiribam. Soon after the accident, State police personnel and CRPF jawans rushed to the spot and started rescue works. They pulled out injured persons as well as dead bodies from the gorge.
Out of the nine deceased persons, six have been identified as Uttaraj (CRPF personnel) of Poirou Khongjil, Md Shahidue Rahaman (Manipur Police constable driver of Jiribam police station) of Samurou Makha Leikai, Adela Heisnam of Chingmeirong Mission, driver of the Cruiser O Shyamananda (49) s/o O Binod of Nayagram, Cachar Assam, Lainjohen and Poujamung
Six injured persons were evacuated to Imphal for treatment.
In another accident, driver of a Tata truck was killed on spot along Imphal-Dimapur highway at Lairouching, Senapati district. The accident happened today at around 12.45 pm when the Tata truck fell down a gorge at Lairouching killing the drive on the spot, informed a source.
The deceased driver has been identified as Deepak Rasaili (27) s/o Khatka Bahadur of Kangpokpi Sompiyang and the body has been kept at JNIMS morgue for post mortem.
Source: The Sangai Express
