2 displaced people from Manipur die as car falls into Mizoram gorge

AIZAWL: Two internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Manipur - a 57-year-old man and his 23-year-old daughter-in-law - were killed when the car they were travelling in fell into a gorge near Saitual town on Sunday night. Altogether five persons were in the car that was coming from Lamka in Manipur's Churachandpur district and was headed towards the Mizoram capital.
Police reports said Haosei Kipgen, who was driving the car, and his daughter-in-law, Lamneihkhol, died on the spot.
The other three injured persons, which included Lamneihkhol's one-year-old son and a seven-year-old girl, were taken to Saitual district hospital where doctors said their condition was stable.
The post-mortem examination of the bodies was conducted on Monday and they would be sent to B Aijalon in Lamka for the last rites.
A night-long vigil in accordance with Mizo tradition was organised at the home of a Saitual college teacher, JK Touthang, on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, a 12-year-old boy and a one-month-old infant, who were also internally displaced people of Manipur, died at Saiphai village in Assam-Mizoram border district of Kolasib on Monday morning.
The infant, Samuel Lalsiemsang, died of high fever. The baby's family was from Cachar district of Assam and was taking shelter in Mizoram in the wake of the Manipur violence, which has also affected some parts of southern Assam.
Lalsiemsang's parents joined their relatives at Saiphai village where he was buried. The other boy, Lalthalien, was taking shelter at a relief camp in Saiphai village and died of pneumonia. His body was taken to his native village at Savawmphai in Manipur after arrangements were made by the Saiphai village relief committee.
With the violence continuing to rock Manipur, the number of IDPs who have fled Manipur and taken shelter in Mizoram rose to 9,501 till 5pm on Monday.
The 623 IDPs who entered Mizoram during the last 24 hours have taken shelter in Kolasib, Aizawl and Saitual districts.
There are 3,482 IDPs taking shelter in Kolasib district, followed by 3,157 and 2,389 people in Aizawl and Saitual districts.