Operation continues to rescue the miners who have been trapped in a mine at Ksan near Lyteiñ River in East Jaintia Hills. Image courtesy of ANI. 
Operation continues to rescue the miners who have been trapped in a mine at Ksan near Lyteiñ River in East Jaintia Hills. Image courtesy of ANI.  
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Within Less Than A Month, Another Illegal Coal Mine Collapses In Meghalaya Killing At Least Two

BySwarajya Staff

On Sunday, 6 January, collapse of an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hill district has resulted in the death of at least two miners. The miners have been identified as Elad Bareh and Monoj Basumatry. Both hailed from Mooknor in Jalyiah village, Deccan Chronicle reported.

While the victims were attempting to extract coal, the boulders reportedly hit them, injuring them fatally. The police are finding the whereabouts of the owner of the illegal mine. In the same district, known to be coal-rich, the police have identified four more cases of illegal mining.

About four years ago, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had placed a ban on such activities. Recently the tribunal slammed a Rs 100 crore fine on the state government for its ‘inaction’ towards closing the illegal mines.

Also read: Meghalaya Mine Tragedy: Why The Congress Has To Take The Blame For It

The police say that they have been actively arresting illegal miners in the district, but their numbers keep multiplying, and there is no end to such activity.

The rescue operations, for the 15 miners who were trapped after a collapse in the illegal coal mine, have entered 25th day. The efforts have been affected due to glitches in the high-powered pumps being used to extract the water from the rat-hole mine which is nearly 370-ft-deep.