Meghalaya coal mine mishap: Is govt guilty of delaying help for trapped miners?

The authorities in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district on Monday temporarily suspended operations to rescue 15 miners trapped in a 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine in Ksan area of Lumthari village since December 13.

The exercise will resume once more powerful pumps are made available to district authorities, district Deputy Commissioner, FM Dopth, told PTI. The miners were trapped in the illegal pit after water from nearby Lytein River gushed into the mine.

About 20 miners on December 13 entered the quarry owned by Krip Chullet. After reaching the bottom of the pit, they entered horizontal manholes, often termed as 'rat-holes', as each just about fits one person. Five persons were able to climb out of the flooded mine, leaving the others behind.