Tamenglong: An oil tanker driver, identified as Vijay Tamang (40), from Charajari in Kangpokpi district, drowned in the Barak River near Sibilong Village, Tamenglong district, yesterday at approximately 10:30 AM. The unfortunate incident occurred while Tamang, who was driving a loaded oil tanker (bearing registration number AS-25BC 5299), was resting on the riverbank along with a convoy traveling from Jiribam towards Imphal.
Upon receiving news of the incident, a search and rescue operation was immediately launched by a team from Tamenglong Police stationed at Sibilong, along with CRPF personnel and villagers from Sibilong and Puiluanh (Kambiron).
Later in the evening, a team from the Rongmei Naga Students’ Organization, Manipur (RNSOM), led by its President, Daichui Gangmei, and RNCM Vice President, Athan Rongmei, joined the efforts. The Driver’s Union Oinamlong also arrived to support the search operation.
The search operation is in full swing, with reinforcement from Tamenglong Police led by Additional SP Josiah Pamei (MPS), and local volunteers using wooden boats to scour the river. However, strong currents and high water levels in the Barak River have posed significant challenges to the ongoing efforts.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have yet to join the search operations.
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