Rescue Operation in Meghalaya by Indian Navy is on, Visibility poor, Some wooden structure found inside

Shillong: In a major development to the rescue operations of the 15 miners who are stilled trapped inside the 370-foot-deep illegal coal pit in Khloo Ryngksan near Letein river of East of Jaintia Hills district, the Indian Navy divers after staying inside the shaft came out after three hours today at around 3 pm.

As per reports, Under Water Remotely Operated Vehicle (UWROV) found that there is some wooden structure inside and coal was also found lying beneath.

Speaking to the media, the visibility inside the coal pit is very poor, informed the Indian Navy.

Reportedly, one rat hole was also found with coal at its mouth. The Indian Navy also informed the media that when the level of the water comes down the search will be feasible.

At present, the site is cleared for fire service from Odisha to start the pumping of water from the main shaft. Also, other shafts nearby are being prepared to keep the pumps of Odisha to enable to operate pumping.

Earlier, the 15-member diving team of the Indian Navy joined the rescue operations on Saturday to evacuate 15 miners in East Jaintia Hills district. These 15 miners were being trapped site since December 13.

Around 10 high powered pumps for pumping out water of the mine were taken to the site.

A team of surveyors of the Coal India Limited had also reached the site and started surveying the coal mine and areas around it in order to know whether the water from the nearby river has entered the mine or whether the water has come from other inter-connected coal mines.

The high powered pumps reached the site along with 21 men from the Odisha fire service department to assist the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in the rescue operation.

Apart from the 10 pumps requisitioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Coal India Limited is also bringing its eight pumps to the site for pumping out the water from the coal mine.

Reportedly, the NDRF team with its 71 personnel who have been camping at the coal mine site along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel and police after the incident occurred on December 13.

Moreover, East Jaiñtia Hills Additional Deputy Commissioner, S Syiemlieh earlier also stated that equipment meant for the nine divers of the Indian Navy from Vizag would be taken to the site on Sunday.

Syiemlieh said that a team leader of the divers of the Indian was also briefed about the operation by the NDRF Assistant Commandant, Santosh Kumar Singh at the site.

Experts from the CIL were surveying the coal mine as well as the Leteiñ river which is flowing near the coal mine.

The operation was suspended on December 22 after the pumps used for pumping out the water could not reduce the level of water inside the coal mine.

It may further be mentioned that around 20 lakh litres were pumped out from December 14 to December 24.