States »EasPosted at: Jun 1 2021 10:27PM ‘Trapped’ coal miners yet to be rescued in Meghalaya, Opposition demands independent probe
Shillong, June 1 (UNI) Efforts by a team of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Fire and Emergency Services to rescue five miners trapped in a 500-feet deep flooded abandoned coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district have been marred by lack of effective equipment on Tuesday.
Leader of the Opposition in Meghalaya Assembly, Dr Mukul Sangma on Tuesday demanded an independent inquiry into alleged illegal coal mining in all the districts of the state and punishment of those involved as per law,
East Jaintia Hills district deputy commissioner, E Kharmalki said that SDRF and Fire and Emergency Services personnel tried to enter into the main shaft of the coal pit but the crane that was supposed to take them in did not operate.
"We repaired the crane this afternoon and the rescue team will enter the main shaft of the coal pit tomorrow to rescue the trapped missing persons,” Kharmlaki told UNI.
The mine mishap occurred on May 30, when at least five miners entered the coal mine located at Umpleng area under Sutnga Elaka, East Jaintia Hills district, about 100 Km from the State capital Shillong. The miners got trapped inside as water gushed into the mine after a dynamite explosion.
Unscientific ‘rat-hole’ coal mining has been banned in the unregulated mines in Meghalaya since April 2014 by a National Green Tribunal order, but illegal mines like this one have flourished freely due to poor enforcement of the ban.
“Illegal coal mining won't have taken place if some powerful people are not behind it. Since the government has time and again denied there are such illegalities going on, this has brought losses to the revenue of the state," Dr. Sangma, who is the former chief minister of the state, told reporters on the sidelines of his visit to West Jaintia Hills to see the preparedness of the district to fight COVID-19.
The leader of opposition also said that illegal coal mining has brought losses to the autonomous district councils, which earn royalties from minerals.
He also mentioned that people were not scared to go against the law because people in authority were also involved.
The former chief minister also said that Meghalaya is “not such a big state wherein the officers cannot keep their ears and eyes on the ground”.
Superintendent of Police in-charge East Jaintia Hills district, Jagpal Singh Dhanoa had said three of the trapped miners had been identified as Abdul Karim of Assam's Boko, Abdul Kalam of Assam's Barpeta district, Shyamcharan Debbarma of Tripura, while two others were unidentified persons from Assam's Silchar.
Dhanoa said one person has been detained, but unfortunately he tested positive for COVID- 19 and is currently in quarantine.
However, the Sordar or manager of the mine, identified as Nizam Ali, absconded following the mine mishap.
Meanwhile, family and friends of two of the unidentified victims of the mining mishap have come forward and claimed that their family members are missing in the mining mishap.
Yeahyea Hussain, the uncle of one of the unidentified victims, Anowarul Islam Bharbhuiya, who is believed to be trapped in the illegal coal mine, claims that he has been able to "track the Sordar of the illegal mine, Nizam Ali from Karimganj district over the phone and spoke to him."
“When we came to know about the mishap we traced down Ali’s home in Karimganj and spoke to him over the phone from his wife’s mobile number,” Hussain said.
"Ali has confirmed to me that Bharbhuiya is one of the victims trapped inside the mine. He also confirmed the identity of the other person and that person is Abdul Sukur from Cachar district," he said.
“We now want to be at the site of the rescue operations, but since there is a lockdown in Meghalaya we have not been allowed. So we are waiting for approval from the authorities in Meghalaya to be there,” Hussain said.
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