SHILLONG, MAY 31: At least five miners are feared trapped inside one of the illegal coal mines in the state’s East Jaintia Hills district.
Three of the five missing persons have been identified as Abdul Karim from Boko, Assam, Abdul Kalam from Barpeta, Assam and Shyamcharan Debbarma from Tripura. The two unidentified persons are said to be from Silchar, Assam.
The district police were able to identify the probable location of the incident at 6am on Monday while acting on information received from Superintendent of Police, Silchar about 6 mine workers being trapped in a coal mine in East Jaintia Hills on the night of May 30.
The delay in identification of probable site was due to inclement weather, poor night light condition and non-availability of any eye witness account.
Higher authorities were apprised about the probable incident and in collaboration with district administration a search and rescue operation was launched. The State Disaster Response Team also reached the probable location of the incident thereafter.
The search and rescue operation is going on under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police (Law & Order).
District police chief Jagpal Singh Dhanoa said six persons came forward with eyewitness account of the events that transpired on May 30 at 5pm today.
“As per eyewitnesses account due to the sudden explosion of dynamite, five persons got trapped in the sudden rush of water into the mine. Within no time the mine was inundated,” he said.
The SP said the main culprit as per eyewitnesses is sordar by the name of Nizam Ali who did nothing to rescue the trapped labourers.
Rather Nizam Ali threatened the survivors with dire consequences and chased them away from the mining site.
Based on their account, an FIR has been registered at the Khliehriat police station.
The survivors are being looked after by police to ensure their security.
“Further, investigation is on and no stone is being left unturned to arrest the sordar of the mine,” Singh said.
He further informed that till filing of this report one person has been detained for questioning. Unfortunately, the accused person has tested positive for Covid-19 and is being kept under guard at the isolation centre at Khliehriat.
There have been several incidents of coal mine mishaps in the past in Meghalaya.
In 2018, 15 miners had got trapped 370 feet below a rat-hole coal mine in the same district and despite over two-month long efforts by multiple agencies, including the Indian Navy, the bodies of only a few victims could be retrieved. Five miners had managed to escape by climbing wires.
In 2014, the National Green Tribunal had issued an order banning mining in the state, specifically mining through the rat-hole technique. Despite the ban, there is allegedly no let-up in illegal mining activities.
By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours