Oil Tanker driver, Vijay Tamang, 40, of Charajari, Kangpokpi district drowned in Barak River at Sibilong Village, Tamenglong district in Mnaipur Thursday around 10.30 am
The driver was taking a rest on the river bank along with the entire convoy coming from Jiribam towards Imphal when the incident happened. Vijay Tamang was the driver of a loaded Oil Tanker bearing No. AS-25BC 5299.
A Tamenglong Police team posted at Sibilong, CRPF posted at Barak, villagers of Sibilong and Puiluanh (Kambiron) immediately launched a rescue operation on learning of the ill fated incident.
A team of Rongmei Naga Students Organization Manipur (RNSOM) led by its president Daichui Gangmei and RNCM vice president Athan Rongmei, Driver's Union Oinamlong reached the spot later to join the search operation on the same evening.
The search and rescue operation is going on in full swing with re-enforcement coming from Tamenglong Police led by additional SP Tamenglong Josiah Pamei (MPS) and local volunteers using wooden boats at the spot.
Strong river water current and high water level at Barak River cause inconveniences at the search operation. NDRF/SDRF team are yet to join the search operations.
