Miners trapped Meghalaya: CIL mobilises experts and equipment’s to launch rescue operation

Guwahati: Coal India Limited (CIL) has started mobilizing experts and equipment’s to launch massive rescue operation in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya where 15 miners are trapped inside the rat hole mine since December 13 last.

General Manager of the Coal India Limited’s North eastern Coalfields, J Borah told ET, “Emergency team has been formed, experts and equipment’s are mobilized. Equipment are sourced from different establishments of coal India and its subsidiary companies. These materials are coming from Bilaspur, Dhanbad and Nagpur. It will take couple of days of the materials to reach the site as it coming by road.”

Meghalaya government has requested CIL to assist in search and rescue operation. Borah added, “A ten member team including four engineers and six surveyors are arriving the sport on Thursday. “


Rescue operations were carried by National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Rescue Force (SDRF) and the district administration of East Jaintia Hills, however, water could not pumped out as the water level as very high.

Mining expert Jaswant Singh Gill had also visited the mine at Ksan recently at the request of the Meghalaya government and suggested to plug the water entry points to the mine and use powerful pumps to drain out the waters from the rat hole mine.

On Wednesday chief minister Conard Sangma stated, “Situation right now is very difficult .Almost entire River came into the mine, 12 lakh litres of water have been pumped out, but still water level is rising.”

The incident has taken a political turn with Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s taking a jibe on Prime minister, Narendra Modi alleging of not doing enough to save the lives of 15 miners trapped.

Gandhi in a tweet stated 15 miners have been struggling for air in a flooded coal mine for two weeks. Meanwhile, PM struts about on Bogibeel Bridge posing for cameras. His government refuses to organise high pressure pumps for the rescue. PM please save the miners.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Union Minister of state for Home Kiren Rijiju stated that the government in association with the Centre doing best to rescue the miners.

The ban on coal mining by NGT in Meghalaya was one of the major issue in assembly election held early this year. On April 17 2014, NGT banned the rat hole mining, a practice unique to Meghalaya. Economy of Assam and Meghalaya is hard hit following the ban.

Six party alliance government of Meghalaya has formed group of ministers to study the current status on the NGT ban on coal mining.

Sangma on couple of occasion discussed with Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal way forward for operationalization of coal mining.