Aizawl/Imphal, Oct 2 (IANS) The bodies of three officials of Doordarshan and the Press Information Bureau (PIB), who were killed when their car plunged into a deep gorge near Sataek village in Mizoram, would be handed over to their families on Friday, officials said.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and his Mizoram counterpart Lalduhoma on Friday separately condoled the deaths of the three officials.
Aizawl Doordarshan Kendra Director (News) Nampibou Marinmai, Press Information Bureau (PIB) Additional Director General Engam Pame, and a multi-tasking staff (MTS) member of the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) field office in Mizoram, H. Lianvela, were killed when the car in which they were travelling plunged into a deep gorge near Sataek village, about 30 km south of Aizawl, on Thursday night.
The driver of the vehicle, Gojendro Dey of Aizwal CBC, sustained severe injuries and was admitted to Zoram Medical College and Hospital (ZMCH) at Falkawn near Aizawl, an official said.
According to the official, the four were returning to Aizawl after planting a tree at Sialsuk village in memory of Pame’s brother, who had died in an accident, when their vehicle veered off the road and plunged into the gorge after the driver suddenly experienced uneasiness and was unable to move his limbs or open his eyes.
The bodies of Nampibou Marinmai and Engam Pame will be sent to their respective hometowns in Manipur on Friday after the autopsy, the official said.
The three bodies were brought to ZMCH on Thursday night for postmortem examination, which is scheduled to be conducted on Friday.
Leaders of the Mizoram Journalists’ Association (MJA) also visited ZMCH on Thursday night to offer condolences and pay homage to the three officials.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Lalduhoma, who is also the president of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), and Mizoram Congress President Lal Thanzara on Friday separately condoled the deaths.
In a social media post, the Chief Minister wrote: “I am deeply saddened by the tragic and untimely demise of Engam Pamei, PIB Imphal Additional Director General; Nampibou Marinmai, Director (News) of Doordarshan Kendra at Aizawl; and H. Lianvela, MTS of Aizawl CBC, who lost their lives in a tragic accident on the evening of October 1.”
“My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families and loved ones. Their sudden and untimely passing is a profound loss, and I share in the grief of all who mourn them. May God grant strength and comfort to the bereaved families in this time of profound sorrow. May they rest in peace,” Lalduhoma said.
Expressing his deep sorrow, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, in a Facebook post, said that the senior officers lost their lives in a tragic road accident in Mizoram.
“Nampibou Marinmai and Engam Pame were residents of Tamenglong district in Manipur. The Chief Minister extended his heartfelt prayers and sincere condolences to the bereaved families, praying that they find strength and courage to bear the irreparable loss,” a post by the Manipur Chief Minister’s Office said.
–IANS
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