Manipur: 1 Painter Killed, 2 Injured in Road Accident; Unclaimed Body to Be Disposed

A 30-year-old house painter, Kongjengbam Romesh, died and two other painters were injured when the car they were travelling in skidded off the Kwakta–Charangpat road and plunged into a roadside ditch amid heavy rains in Bishnupur district, Manipur. The injured were taken to Kwakta Primary Health Centre where Romesh was later declared dead. Separately, Manipur Police said an unidentified decomposed male body found on the banks of the Imphal River (Telepati area) on September 25 will be disposed of if unclaimed by October 3; the body is currently at JNIMS mortuary.

Around 8 p.m. on a rainy night, a vehicle (described in reports as a “Beat”) carrying three professional house painters skidded off the Kwakta–Charangpat stretch and plunged into a roadside ditch. The three victims were:

• Kongjengbam Romesh (30) — resident of Moirang Konjengba Leikai, Moirang police station area — later declared dead at Kwakta Primary Health Centre.
• Kongjengbam Ashok (30) — injured.
• Ningombam Robinson (29) — injured.

Police rushed the injured to the nearby health centre; doctors declared Romesh dead. The driver, remarkably, walked away unhurt. Heavy rain and likely slippery road conditions were noted in the official account — a common and deadly combination on rural stretches after evening downpours.

These were not commuters or politicians; they were working men: house painters, people who earn daily and make homes a little brighter. When news reports name their ages and localities — Moirang Konjengba Leikai, for instance — it’s a reminder these are neighbours, family members, breadwinners. For communities like Moirang, a sudden death creates both emotional and financial shocks. Funerals, lost wages, and the unanswered question of how a routine journey turned fatal become immediate concerns for the family and community.  

The reported account highlights that police and local health services responded quickly enough to transport the injured to Kwakta Primary Health Centre. Rapid emergency care can be the difference between life and death in road accidents; in remote areas, however, “rapid” may still mean precious minutes lost while getting vehicles and personnel to the scene. That Romesh was declared dead at the health centre shows injuries that were likely severe and immediate.

FAQs — Five unique questions & answers

Q1: Who was the person killed in the accident and where was he from?

A1: The deceased was Kongjengbam Romesh (30), a professional house painter from Moirang Konjengba Leikai under Moirang Police Station jurisdiction in Bishnupur district. He succumbed to injuries after the vehicle he was in skidded off the Kwakta–Charangpat road and fell into a ditch. 

Q2: What were the conditions when the accident happened?

A2: The crash occurred around 8 p.m. amid heavy rains, which likely made the Kwakta–Charangpat road slippery and contributed to the vehicle skidding off the road. 

Q3: What happened to the injured painters?

A3: Two other painters — Kongjengbam Ashok (30) and Ningombam Robinson (29) — were injured and taken to the nearby Kwakta Primary Health Centre for treatment. 

Q4: Why is the police planning to dispose of an unclaimed body?

A4: Police reported that a decomposed male body found on the Imphal River banks on September 25 is kept at JNIMS mortuary and poses a health risk due to decomposition. If no one claims the body by the deadline (October 3), authorities said they will proceed with disposal, while continuing efforts to identify the person. 

Q5: What can prevent similar road accidents in future?

A5: Preventive measures include improving road drainage and signage, restricting non-essential night-time travel during heavy rain, ensuring vehicle maintenance and driver rest, and strengthening local emergency response systems to reduce mortality after crashes.