MEGHALAYA: A rescue operation is in process to rescue at least 13 workers trapped in a coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills. The mine is said to be flooded and the workers are feared to be dead. Efforts are on, while the rescue team is pumping the water out of the mine and the workers are being identified.
The incident was reported to the district authorities Thursday morning. “NDRF and SDRF teams have started work. We have registered a case against the owner of the mine. It was a deep mine”, said the Superintendent of police, Sylvester Nongtynger. The authorities refused to comment on the probable condition of the men trapped into a Rat hole mine, a widely practised mining technique in Meghalaya. It is also noticeable that the rat-hole mining was strictly banned by the NGT(National Green Tribunal).
Agnes Kharshiing, an activist and her colleague Amita Sangma were also attacked while locating an illegal mine in November.
Meghalaya is said to have 640 million tonnes of coal reserve.
13 feared to be dead inside an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya
Rat-hole mining was banned by NGT in 2013
