SHILLONG, DEC 17: The state government has sought the help of the union home ministry to retrieve the miners who were trapped in an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills District for the past five days.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, chief minister Conrad K Sangma said, “I have spoken to the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and I had requested him to send in more professional teams and the best equipments that they have. He had taken it up and people from all over have come to help rescue the miners.”
At least 13 miners engaged in extracting coal were trapped after water from nearby River Lytein gushed inside the mine, which is 370 feet deep, at Ksan area in Lumthari village. The incident took place in the morning of December 13.
Asked, the chief minister the rescue team are trying their level best but the situation is very difficult as no matter how many pumps they put in the water flow is so much that they were not able to bring it down to a level where they are able to rescue the trapped miners.
He however assured that the government will engaged whoever it takes and will try its level best to save the lives of the people who are trapped inside the mine.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police on Monday continued with their efforts to locate the 13 miners.
Despite using sonar system and underwater camera to detect 13 miners, the rescue team however failed to locate any of the trapped miners due to poor visibility.
As the water level at the pit did not recede much despite continuous pumping, the NDRF officials suggested to the district administration of East Jaintia Hills to call in the Oil Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to deploy “submersible water pumps” to reduce the water level.
Meanwhile, district police chief Silvester Nongtyngnger informed that one more person is found missing in connection with the incident at Ksan coal mine and he has been identified as Abdul Kalam SK from West Garo Hills District.
By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours