Latest news with #Kipgen
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Air India cabin crew from Manipur, Lamnunthem Singson, was only earning member of family: Cousin
Lamnunthem Singson, a 26-year-old Air India crew member from Manipur and sole provider for her family displaced by ethnic violence, tragically died in the Ahmedabad plane crash. She last spoke with her mother on June 11, sharing her upcoming London flight plans. Her family, already struggling, now faces immense grief and uncertainty as they await the identification of her body. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Twenty-six-year-old Lamnunthem Singson, who was one of the two crew members from Manipur and killed in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, was the sole earning member of her family, which had faced the brunt of the ethnic violence in the northeastern had last talked to her widowed mother over the phone on June 11, her cousin said on told her mother that she would fly to London on Thursday and wanted to sleep early the previous night, he third child among four siblings, Singson was the "only daughter and their widowed mother had struggled much to raise all of them", her cousin Lun Kipgen said."The 26-year-old was the sole earning member of the family. Her eldest brother is unemployed and suffering from a chronic disease, while two other brothers are studying," Kipgen told unwell, her eldest brother is already on his way to Ahmedabad, while another brother and a cousin went from Kangpokpi to Nagaland's Dimapur, and will go to the Gujarat city, he said, "We are devastated by the news. Her mother is in deep shock and refused to eat since the crash reports surfaced." Air India authorities called Singson's family late on Thursday and said her body was yet to be identified, he was among the 242 people onboard Air India Flight AI 171 , which crashed minutes after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon."There has been no survivor except one passenger," Kipgen said."Singson last talked to her mother on Wednesday around 11 pm. She had said that she would fly to London the next day and wanted to sleep as early as possible because she had to report for duty early on Thursday. Singson and her mother held routine prayers over the phone. They used to pray jointly over the phone regularly before sleeping," he belonged to a Kuki family whose members had to flee their homes during the ethnic violence in the northeastern state, her cousin said."Her family members, including her three brothers, had fled their home in Imphal during the ethnic strife and are now staying at a rented house in Kangpokpi district," Kipgen residence of Singson's family in Imphal's Old Lambulane area is near the Manipur Rifles complex and the Raj Bhavan "When ethnic violence broke out in May 2023, Singson was not in the state, but her family members, along with other Kuki families, shifted to Kangpokpi," another family member Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, another crew member from Manipur, was onboard the London-bound flight that crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday. PTI
New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Two years on, Manipur's displaced families still await return amid fragile peace
IMPHAL: From running a successful business to no income and three children to support, G Kipgen is waiting to return to his home in Imphal amidst a sense of despair. But he is not alone, there are many like him. The devastating impact of the ethnic conflict that rocked Manipur two years ago is still being felt, with thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) continuing to live in overcrowded camps — waiting and hoping to return to their homes amidst fragile peace. "I used to run a successful coaching institute in Imphal. It's all gone now. With no source of income and three children, I am worried about their future. I can't focus on anything. What is even more concerning is that there is no sign of how things will get better," an emotional Kipgen said. Over 260 people have been killed, 1,500 injured, and over 70,000 people displaced after the ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo people on May 3, 2023. Despite the sacking of controversial Chief Minister N Biren Singh for "not being able to handle" the situation, and the imposition of President's rule in February this year, peace remains a far cry. "My greatest worry is the future of my two little children," said Abung, a Meitei IDP from Churachandpur district who is staying in a prefabricated home in Bishnupur district. "Earlier, I had a thriving grocery business. While living in a prefabricated home is better than staying in a relief camp, it doesn't compare to the freedom and happiness of living in one's own home," he added. As the IDPs struggle to rebuild their lives from the trauma of displacement, civil society organisations on both sides continue to hold firm to their demands. While hill-based Kukis call for a separate administration, the Meiteis, who are in the majority in Imphal valley, seek implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and the deportation of those they consider illegal immigrants. Despite monitoring by central and state authorities to control violence and improve the lives of the affected, there is growing frustration among the general public. The IDPs, whether Meitei or Kuki, have voiced deep insecurity about their families' future and are grappling with severe psychological distress.
