Shillong, June 26: Rescue teams on Friday retrieved the third body from the bottom of the 152 meter-deep flooded illegal coal mine at Krem U Le, Umpleng in East Jaintia Hills.
Navy divers had retrieved the first body on June 16, followed by the second body being found on June 24. With the recovery of three bodies, two more remain missing in the coal mine.
At least five miners got trapped inside an illegal coal mine in Sutnga Elaka after a tragic accident that took place on the night of May 30. Currently, 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. So far, 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.
“The navy team detected one more body today and has retrieved it from the main shaft,” East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner, E Kharmalki said.
He said inquest has been conducted by the Executive Magistrate at the spot and the dead body has been transported to Khliehriat morgue for post mortem.
Sources informed that the family member of a miner from Karimganj District has identified his body. The deceased was identified as Abdul Sukkur (28).
Meanwhile, the district administration has requested respective Superintendents of Police to inform the immediate family members of the victims trapped in the coal mine to identify the retrieved bodies.
