Efforts on to rescue trapped miners in East Jaintia Hills District

SHILLONG, DEC 14: Efforts are on to rescue the 13 labourers trapped in an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills District even as the operation will again resume tomorrow.

“Operations are on. It is a difficult task but they are still making efforts to pump out the water and at the same time to rescue the trapped miners,” Home Minister James K Sangma told reporters here on Friday.

At least 13 miners were trapped and feared dead after water from nearby River Lytein gushed inside the mine at Ksan yesterday.

He said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) along with the district administration and police are trying their level best to rescue the miners and “we hope something positive emerges out of this.”

Asked, Sangma said it seems this area is very close to a river and that is why this mine got flooded with water. “However, the problem is the water and it is a challenging task and we don’t know whether they (miners) are still alive or not,” he added.

He said that it appeared the labourers have been engaged to go into the mine to extract coal.

Sangma further informed that the mine owner has been identified as James Sukhlain who is presently absconding and police are trying to trace his whereabouts.

A case has been registered against Sukhlain and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been invoked.

Assuring that the government will take action against illegal mining, the home minister however said, “Right now we are looking at the rescue operations and at the same time specifically relating to this case the fact that his (Sukhlain) land been used for illegal mining.”

Reacting to a query, Sangma while stating that this is the first instance that has come to light said, “If there has been any specific information about illegal minning taking place in this village and in this person’s land I am very sure the government departments would have swung into action but as I said it is not possible to go into these interior areas unless you get specific information.”

Meanwhile, the district police chief S Nongtyngnger informed that the rescue teams are still camping in the area and will again resume the operation tomorrow.
By Our Reporter