IMPHAL, April 29 - A search operation is under way to trace three missing persons in the water body of Mapithel dam, located in Ukhrul, Kamjong and Thoubal districts of Manipur, officials said on Monday.
The search operation was conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in association with personnel from the SDRF, police and fire service.
An NDRF official, when contacted over phone, said there was no report of any recovery so far. The search operation, which was initiated by the state authorities on Sunday and was later joined by a 22-member NDRF team from Arunachal Pradesh, is expected to continue.
Three persons, including a female, have remained untraceable after two boats they were travelling in on the water body of Mapithel dam capsized in a powerful storm that raged across the state around 4 pm on Sunday.
Though locals rescued nine people during the incident, three persons � identified as S Rajiv (35), S Romen (29) and N Rani (19), all hailing from Ningthoukhong Kha-Khunou village under Bishnupur district, could not be traced, according to reports.
Sunday�s sudden and powerful storm damaged many houses, educational institutions, uprooted trees, electric poles and disturbed power supply for more than two hours here. The devastating thunderstorm also affected livelihood in various parts of the state including in Kangpokpi district.
A similar storm hit the state on April 15, claiming the lives of three women, and rendering many people homeless.
On Monday, Chief Minister N Biren accompanied by DGP LM Khaute and other senior officials visited the Mapithel dam to inspect the search operation.
