Meghalaya: Rescue operations underway as 13 miners battle for life in 370-feet deep illegal mine
Rescue operations are underway to retrieve 13 miners who are trapped in a 370-feet deep illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia hills district. The mine is flooded with the water level at 70 feet.
Illegal coal mine Meghalaya’s East Jaintia hills district where 13 workers are feared trapped I Credit: ANI | Photo Credit: ANI
Shillong, Meghalaya: Rescue efforts which began on Thursday continued Saturday morning without much success in retrieving thirteen people are still trapped in a flooded illegal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia hills district. The rescue efforts to pump put water have failed to yield any results, said authorities. Pumps were deployed to reduce the water level when the incident first came to light on Thursday morning.
Two teams of NDRF (National Disaster Relief Force) comprising 60 personnel and 12 rescue workers of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were pressed into service, authorities told the news agency PTI. The coal mine is 370-feet deep and the water level which remains at 70 feet hasn't receded and more pumps will be deployed, said authorities.
Police DIG (eastern range) A R Mawthoh on Friday said divers will make an attempt to locate the trapped miners. As per witnesses, five people came out of the mine after water from the nearby Lytein river gushed inside the mine at Ksan village – which is under the jurisdiction of Saipung police station.
The police estimated the number of trapped miners after talking to the villagers. The National Green Tribunal had banned unscientific and unsafe ‘rat hole’ mining in 2014. The police have registered a case against and are searching for the mine operator James Sukhlain who is said to be absconding.
The mine which is a 15-feet by 15-feet vertical shaft is 370 feet in depth and at the bottom of the mine, holes are dug out of which coal chips are dug out.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said strict action will be taken against illegal miners at the right time. “We got to know about the illegal mining incidents and appropriate action will be taken at appropriate time against people who are involved in it," Sangma was quoted by the news agency ANI.
"The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team and police have started search and rescue operations and we all are very concerned about the lives of the miners," he added.