A team of police and rescue workers rushed to the site — Joumol, a small Kuki-dominated hamlet under Khengjoy block.
The neighbouring villagers were unable to clear the huge earth masses enveloping the village.
“The exact number of casualties would be known after the evacuation work is complete. So far, we have learnt that 20 villagers were killed while one survived in the worst ever landslide in Manipur in the recent times,” an official said. Owing to incessant rains since the last few days, Manipur has witnessed widespread flood in low-lying areas, damaging vast tract of agricultural lands and houses.
“We are shocked to hear the sad news. Because of the floods we are not able to join the rescue works at the spot,” said a Chandel villager.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted: “NDRF teams have been rushed to the landslide affected areas of Chandel district. I assured the Manipur CM of all help from the Centre.”
Meanwhile, in another landslide that happened on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, traffic was affected near the Khandala tunnel on Saturday afternoon.
Motorists going towards Mumbai had to be diverted due to the blockage.
A landslide occurred around 3 pm on the Mumbai carriageway of the Expressway. Huge boulders that fell on the three lanes of the Mumbai carriageway disrupted the traffic movement. Fortunately, there were no casualties.