Ukhrul: In a tragic incident, a one-year-seven-month-old boy lost his life, and two other children sustained injuries when a retaining wall collapsed in Ukhrul district headquarters on Monday evening.
According to sources, the incident occurred around 4 p.m. when a rainfall-induced landslide caused the collapse of a retaining wall on the western side of Hamleikhong, near the Mini Secretariat. The wall’s collapse completely destroyed a neighboring house.
The young victim has been identified as Chisin Lunghar, son of Hormi Lunghar from Tashar village, currently residing in the Hamleikhong area. The other two injured children, also from the same family, are Thatchuilan Lunghar, 9, and Ringsik Lunghar, 6.
All three children were immediately evacuated and rushed to the district hospital. Unfortunately, the youngest sibling succumbed to his injuries, while the other two were discharged after receiving first aid.
Sources revealed that the collapsed retaining wall belongs to Outer Manipur Member of Parliament (MP) Alfred Kanngam Arthur. The victim’s family had previously expressed concerns about the safety of the wall, citing its height and instability. Despite numerous pleas to the wall’s owner to address the issue, their warnings were ignored.
“We had warned them time and again,” the grieving family stated. “We told them the wall was too tall and could endanger our lives. But no one listened, and today we have lost our only son. Our home is gone, and our lives will never be the same.”
The collapse of the retaining wall has sparked serious questions about the responsibility and accountability of those involved in its construction and maintenance. Locals are demanding immediate action to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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