NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Supreme Court Of India
    Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI)
    Indian Army
    Indian Railways
    Indian Air Force
    NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout


    India Business World Politics Sports Technology Entertainment Auto Lifestyle Inspirational Career Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai Visual Stories Find Cricket Statistics Phones Reviews Fitness Bands Reviews Speakers Reviews

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
     
    Home / News / India News / Meghalaya: Navy divers want water level reduced; miners remain trapped
    India

    Meghalaya: Navy divers want water level reduced; miners remain trapped

    Meghalaya: Navy divers want water level reduced; miners remain trapped
    Written by Shiladitya Ray
    Dec 31, 2018, 08:08 pm 3 min read
    Meghalaya: Navy divers want water level reduced; miners remain trapped

    On Monday, Indian Navy divers again entered the flooded rat hole coal mine in Meghalaya, where 15 miners are trapped, and have said that a search would only be feasible if the water level in the mine can be brought down to 30m. The diving team from the Navy first entered the mine on Sunday to search for the trapped miners. Here's more.

    Backstory: 15 miners have been trapped since December 13

    The mine in question is located in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, near the Lytein river in Ksan village. Reportedly, the miners started work on the illegal mine on December 11, and got trapped on December 13 when water from the Lytein river gushed in and flooded the mine. It's believed that the miners accidentally breached an old, flooded mine, leading to the disaster.

    Two weeks of rescue efforts culminated in virtually no progress

    Notably, over the two weeks that have passed since rescue attempts began, authorities have had very little success in locating the miners and ascertaining their status. The only things that have been found, so far, are three helmets believed to belong to the miners. Earlier in the week, NDRF divers had found a foul smell emanating from the pit, and many fear the worst.

    After 17 days, divers entered the shaft on Sunday

    However, rescue forces have not given up hope yet. Earlier, divers could not enter the mine as the water level was too high for them to attempt a rescue. Navy divers, on Sunday afternoon, then entered the mine 370ft deep mine shaft, and spent around three hours inside the mine, but could not find anything significant as visibility was very poor.

    What happened on day 18 of rescue attempts

    Subsequently, on Monday, Navy divers entered the mine shaft again, this time earned with a hi-tech gadget called Under Water Remotely Operated Vehicle (UWROV), and found visibility to be extremely poor - only one foot. Visibility apart, the water level in the mine is currently at 150ft - a depth that is beyond safe diving limits.

    Water level in the mine is a massive hurdle

    Given the conditions, the Navy have now said that the water level inside the mine should be brought down to 30m (98ft) before they can commence search and rescue operations. Earlier, heavy-duty pumps from Coal India were flown in by the Indian Air Force, and it is understood that these pumps will be used to de-water the mine now.

    Rescue attempts should have been stepped up much earlier

    While authorities are trying their best to rescue the miners now, it took over two weeks for heavy duty pumps to be flown in, despite the National Disaster Response (NDRF) requesting them much earlier. It has already been well over two weeks since the miners got trapped, and with each passing hour, their chances of survival diminish considerably.

    Share this timeline
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Meghalaya
    Indian Navy
    Rescue Operation
    Coal India

    Meghalaya

    Meghalaya: Navy divers enter mine to find trapped miners Indian Navy
    Odisha Fire-Services team leaves for Meghalaya to rescue trapped miners Odisha
    Meghalaya: Air Force transports heavy-duty pumps to rescue trapped miners Indian Air Force
    Meghalaya: Trapped for two weeks, 15 miners feared dead National Green Tribunal (NGT)

    Indian Navy

    Kochi: Two Navy personnel killed in hangar door collapse Kochi
    Indian Navy inducts deep submergence rescue vehicle India
    #RajasthanElections: Modi says Congress gave Kartarpur to Pak in 1947 Narendra Modi
    Only dignified activities allowed on INS Viraat: Vice Admiral Luthra Mumbai

    Rescue Operation

    Meghalaya: At least 13 feared dead inside illegal 'rat-hole' mine Meghalaya
    #GoldenGlobeRace: British sailor rescued in Pacific day after yacht dismasted Golden Globe Awards
    This start-up's remote-controlled drone can rescue drowning people India
    Injured sailor Abhilash Tomy set to return home after rescue Australia

    Coal India

    PM lays foundation stone for Rs. 13,000cr Talcher fertilizer project Odisha
    Delhi coal-stocks can supply power for 1.5 days only: Jain Piyush Goyal
    After Air India fiasco, Modi-govt now plans Coal India sale India
    BSE rebounds 69 points; market opens higher ahead of RBI-policy Bharti Airtel

    Love India News?

    Subscribe to stay updated.

    India Thumbnail
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2023