Shillong, July 7: Meghalaya government has so far spent approximately Rs. 20-25 lakh on the rescue operation of five miners trapped in a coal mine at Krem U Le, Umpleng in East Jaintia Hills District. The operation is expected to continue to find the bodies of the remaining two miners, even as incessant rains have made it near impossible to make any breakthroughs.

So far, the divers from Indian Navy have been able to retrieve bodies of three miners from the main shaft of the mine. The three bodies were recovered from 152 meter-deep coal mine on June 16, 24, and 25, respectively. The bodies have been identified as Anowarul Islam, Abdul Sakur and Shyam Charan Debberma by their family members.

The body of Anowarul Islam, a resident of Najatpur Katigorah, Assam was retrieved on June 16 and later handed over to the family on June 25 after being identified by his brother Md Sam Uddin.

The body of Abdul Sakur of Pingajal, Assam was retrieved on June 24 and was handed over to his cousin brother Md Massur Ahmed on the same day while Shyam Charan Debberma’s body was retrieved on June 25 and handed over to his wife Lekhi Rani Debberma from Tripura on June 26.

Rains halt rescue ops

The incessant rains for a week at the coal mine site at Krem U Le in Umpleng have halted the rescue operations due to rising water levels.

For over a week now, the Navy divers are facing difficulty to dive into the 500 feet pit with the 200 feet water which has increased due to the heavy rains.

Minister in-charge of Disaster Management, Kyrmen Shylla informed that heavy rains have disrupted the operation and pumping out the water has been difficult. “In this one weeks time the water level has increased to 200 feet which is next to impossible for navy to dive in,” said Shylla.

At least five miners got trapped inside an illegal coal mine at Krem U Le in Umpleng under the Sutnga Elaka of the district after a tragic accident that took place on the night of May 30, 2021. Over 50 personnel from National Disaster Response Force (NDFR), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), District Disaster Response Force (DDRF), Indian Navy, Fire and Emergency Service and the police are camping at the site to search and retrieve the trapped miners. Police have arrested the owner of the coal mine, Shining Langstang, and charged him for violation of the NGT order banning unscientific mining and transportation of coal.