Navy and NDRF have finally found some success in tracing the workers trapped inside the coal mine in Meghalaya. After about 35 days, a dead body has been detected with a help of an underwater remotely operated vehicle. Search for rest of is still on.
The tragedy occurred on December 13, when more than a dozen miners got trapped inside a 350 m long rat-hole coal mine at Ksan village of East Jaintia hills in Meghalaya. This was allegedly an illegal coal mine where mining activity continued despite being called off by National Green Tribunal. While four managed to escape from the mine, about 15 men remained trapped until one was found dead today morning. Since the mine is located close to Lytein river, water started gushing in with high speed, blocking any way-out for the people stuck.
Absence of any infrastructure or heavy equipment made things worse and thus heavy-duty equipment had to be air-lifted to the accident site. After about 20 days of the incident, the Indian Navy and NDRF had to step in when no development took place in the rescue.
Yet another similar fresh accident occurred on January 7 in Mooknoor village which is 5 kms from the district headquarters of Jaintia Hills. Two people were reported missing at a mine and later found dead beneath a boulder.
Meghalaya has a pretty difficult plateau-like terrain with elevation varying from 500 ft to 6500 ft. Although the weather is kind with no snowfall throughout Winters, but ‘cold’ is phenomenal especially at the higher reaches. Temperatures here fall to very low numbers and icy cold waters flow in the rivers. The only grace at the accident site was that no significant weather system approached the state until many days. Next week as well similar weather conditions will follow and thus rescue operation can be carried out without any hurdle.
Image Credits – Daily News, Samayam
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