Indian Navy joins rescue operations in Meghalaya, 10 high powered pumps taken to mining site

Shillong: The 15-member diving team of the Indian Navy joins the rescue operations on Saturday to evacuate 15 miners in East Jaintia Hills district. These 15 miners were being trapped site at Khloo Ryngksan near Letein river since December 13.

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

Also, a team of surveyors of the Coal India Limited had 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.

“The ten high powered pumps were transported by trucks from Khliehriat to the coal mine site,” said one of the NDRF personnel.

He also informed that pumps were being installed at the coal mine site for pumping out the water.

It may be mentioned that the Coal India Limited would start pumping out the water after surveying the area. 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 said 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.