Not easy situation for rescue ops to save trapped miners as water level rises: CM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 14, 2021

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said it is not an easy situation for the rescue operation team to save the five miners trapped inside an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills as the water level continues to rise despite efforts to pump it out.

Sangma told reporters that the government has called the Indian Navy and is waiting for reports from them.

“They are going to try their best of course. We don’t know last year they required a certain level of water to be taken out so those aspects are still being worked out,” he said.

Stating that all steps are being taken by the government, the chief minister said, “…we are trying to pull and bring everybody on board to try and help us. The Navy has come, the NDRF is there, and the SDRF has already been working there for a very long time.”

He said the government is also communicating with the Coal India Limited and other organizations for their assistance. “We have activated as many channels as possible as I said even the Navy has been called in so we are still hoping that we are able to get something positive out of this entire exercise we are doing,” Sangma added.