Meghalaya Mine Tragedy: Rescue Efforts Enter Fourth Day Amidst Ongoing Probe
Image Source: Internet
Rescue workers in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district continued their search for survivors on Sunday, marking the fourth day of efforts to locate workers trapped in an illegal coal mine. The mine blast on Thursday claimed 27 lives, with 18 bodies recovered on Thursday, seven on Friday, and two on Saturday. According to Vikash Kumar, superintendent of police, East Jaintia Hills, multiple teams from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Meghalaya Police, and local authorities are working to rescue those trapped. Despite the challenges posed by rat-hole mining, a hazardous method that involves narrow tunnels, rescue efforts will continue on Monday. An investigation into the blast has revealed that it was likely caused by a dynamite explosion that ignited methane gas in the mine, leading to a fire. Two people have been arrested in connection with operating the illegal mine, and authorities are searching for five more individuals responsible. In a crackdown on illegal mining, the police have seized 204 gelatine sticks, 175 metric tonnes of illegally extracted coal, and 60 detonators in the past three days. Thirty cases related to illegal coal mining, transportation, and storage have been registered, and three persons arrested. With approximately 500 rat-hole mines in the area, the authorities are working to combat the issue of illegal coal mining in Meghalaya.
