Meghalaya Govt suspends rescue ops to retrieve bodies of trapped miners in EJH

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 8, 2021

The state government has suspended the operations to retrieve the bodies the other miners trapped inside a coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district.

“The rescue operations have been suspended until further notice,” Deputy Commissioner E Kharmalki said on Thursday.

He said in view of incessant rains the level of the water rises which prevent and hamper the diving operations in the mine shaft for retrieval of other dead bodies.

“…the Indian Navy based on their request to de-induct the team from the rescue operation, have left the district yesterday along with their diving equipments to Guwahati,” the DC said.

Further, considering the onset of the monsoons, the diving teams are required for rescue operations elsewhere in the country, he added.

He further informed that the services of the NDRF and SDRF have been de-requisitioned with effect from July 7,  evening.

The rescuers have successfully retrieved three bodies of the 5 miners trapped inside the coal mine and their next of kin have claimed the bodies.