Rescue operations under way to trace migrant workers trapped in Meghalaya mine

Rescue operations had been under way on Tuesday to trace at the least 5 migrant workers from Assam and Tripura who had been trapped inside a rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia district, officers stated.

The incident occurred in Umpleng space on Sunday when water gushed in and inundated the mine after a dynamite explosion.

A manhunt has been launched to arrest the ‘sordar’ (mine supervisor) who fled the scene and threatened others towards opening up concerning the incident, Superintendent of Police Jagpal Singh Dhanoa stated.

One suspect has been detained however he examined constructive for COVID-19 and is presently present process quarantine at a authorities facility at Khliehriat, he stated.

As per the State authorities, 4 migrant labourers from Assam and one from Tripura are trapped in the mine.

However, Disaster Management Minister Kyrmen Shylla, who can also be the native MLA, has requested the district deputy commissioner and SP to confirm claims made by an individual from Assam’s Silchar that six individuals had been trapped contained in the mine.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma held the State authorities liable for the incident and alleged that unlawful coal mining operates with full impunity throughout Meghalaya.

“Never in the history of Meghalaya and NE India had such cartel operated with complete impunity engaging in illegal coal mining and illegal transportation and illegal transaction of such coal across the States – robbing the States. Na khaunga, na khane dunga…kab hoga?” he tweeted.

The Congress chief had in the previous raised the difficulty of unlawful and unscientific mining and transportation of coal throughout the State.

“Illegality of this scale cannot happen without the patronage by the people in authority – both illegal mining and illegal transportation go under the watch of the government,” the previous Chief Minister had stated.

Congress chief Ampareen Lyngdoh additionally demanded to know “who profits from this system”.

Although the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned unsafe and unscientific coal mining and transportation in 2014, one other accident in Ksan space of the district in December 2018 had reportedly claimed the lives of greater than 15 miners, of whom our bodies of solely three had been retrieved.

Another coal mine in South Garo Hills district had flooded in 2012 and locals claimed 15 labourers had been feared useless however none of their our bodies had been discovered.