Five trapped to death in East Jaintia Hills coal mine accident, one arrested

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 31, 2021

East Jaintia Hills police have registered a case against an incident of illegal coal mining which led to five persons being trapped to death inside a mine in the 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 incident at 6am on Monday while acting on information received from Superintendent of Police, Silchar that 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 appraised about the probable incident and in collaboration with district administration search and rescue operation was launched. State Disaster Response Team also reached the probable location of incident thereafter.

District police chief Jagpal Singh Dhanoa said while the search and rescue operation was on under the supervision of Inspector General of Police (Law & Order), six persons came forward with eye witness account of the events that transpired on May 30 at 5pm today.

“As per eye witnesses 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 eye witnesses is sordar by 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, FIR is registered at 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 adding unfortunately, he has tested positive for Covid-19 and is being kept under guard at isolation centre at Khliehriat.