Meghalaya mine tragedy: Skeleton of another trapped miner spotted
What's the story
The Indian Navy detected a skeleton yesterday, possibly of another missing miner, trapped deep inside the 370-feet-deep coal mine in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, officials said. At least 15 miners were trapped after water from the nearby Lytein river gushed into the illegal rat-hole mine in Lumthari village in the Ksan area, Jaintia Hills, on December 13 last year. Read the details here.
Details
Two decomposed bodies spotted earlier, only one could be recovered
Two decomposed bodies were spotted earlier and out of them, only one body could be recovered, the officials said. Yesterday, the rescue operations, the longest in the country, continued for the 74th day. The Army has also joined the rescue operations along with the Navy, the NDRF and other agencies. The underwater ROV (remotely operated vehicle) of the Indian Navy detected the skeleton.
Efforts
Efforts are on to retrieve the skeletal remains: Senior official
"The underwater ROV of the Indian Navy on Sunday detected the skeleton of the third miner deep inside the coal mine. Efforts are on to retrieve it," a senior district official told media. He said the skeletal remains were detected over 150 feet away from the bottom of the 370-feet-deep vertical mine shaft where the miners have been trapped since December 13.
Action
Body detected last month couldn't be retrieved by ROV: Susngi
Operation spokesperson R Susngi said the "completely" decomposed body was detected. Efforts are on to retrieve it. The second body was detected last month and it had slipped away from the jaws of the ROV. That body is yet to be located. Only one body could be retrieved till date, he said. The process of dewatering the mine is also on with three organizations.
Information
Supreme Court is monitoring the operation closely, hearing today
The organizations involved, the Coal India Ltd, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd and KSB, discharge over 1 crore litres of water in a span of 24 hours, Susngi said. The Supreme Court is monitoring the operation closely and the matter will come up for hearing on Monday.
Relief fund
State has paid Rs. 1L interim relief to victims' families
The state government has paid Rs. 1L interim relief to the family members of each of the victims. Home Minister James K Sangma had said the operations to search for the miners will continue as per the Supreme Court's orders. He also said the government is yet to get details of the expenses incurred in the operations which involved mostly dewatering of the mine.