Search Ends as Body of Missing Manipur Schoolgirl Recovered

Imphal: Search teams recovered the body of a missing schoolgirl on Sunday, ending a three-day effort to locate her after flash floods struck Manipur's Churachandpur district. The victim, identified as Lamboikim, was a Class 8 student at Radhakrishnan Foundation School. She went missing on June 11 after strong currents swept her away in the Tuibong Sub-Division while she was walking home.

Authorities discovered her body trapped in mud near the Khengjang power substation. The search operation involved a coordinated effort between the Churachandpur district administration, the State Disaster Response Force, and local community groups. Teams combed the Khuga River using specialized equipment and inflatable boats to navigate the flood-affected terrain.

The recovery mission was organized after the Sub-Divisional Officer in Tuibong requested support from the Deputy Commissioner. An SDRF team arrived from Imphal on Friday, led by Havildar Riyajuddin, and began the search at Zero Point. Local organizations, including the Kuki Khanglai Lawpi and the Kuki Students' Organisation, supported the search alongside residents. Officials confirmed that the girl was "last seen being swept away" before the intensive operation began to locate her along the riverbanks.