At least 16 bodies were found at a construction site in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district after a landslide hit the area. Three other workers were found safe as they had escaped the camp earlier, a police source told the Indian Express.
Rescue operations at Phamla village in Tawang have ended, ANI reported. At least nine labourers died, Scroll quoted additional Deputy Commissioner L Gambo as saying. Other reports said that at least 17 were dead in the landslide, which hit the labour camp in the early hours on Friday.
Nabin Payeng, a police officer, was quoted by the Indian Express as saying that the landslide swept through a labour camp, which was situated 7,500 feet above sea level, at a construction site in Tawang.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh is reportedly taking stock of the situation and had a conversation with the state's Chief Minister Kalikho Pul.
The National Disaster Response Force had earlier left for the location. Continuous rains for the past one week was reportedly the cause of the landslide.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi expressed grief and extended condolences to the family of the deceased's kin. Gandhi also told the Congress leadership in the state to aid the relief work. Former state chief minister Nabam Tuki also offered his condolences to the bereaved families.
Kitpi Ph-I and Ph-II hydel projects were damaged due to incessant rainfall in the state, while roads have been blocked in the district due to the landslide. Personal property has also been damaged, Deccan Chronicle reported.
