Indian Navy personnel have spotted what might be the bodies of two of the missing miners in the Krem Ule disaster in Umpleng, East Jaintia Hills, today.
The Navy divers have been using a remotely operated vehicle equipped with sonar to probe the flooded mine.
The Navy personnel joined the National Disaster Rescue Force and State Disaster Rescue Force teams last week to get to the miners from Assam, numbering at least five, who are feared dead after an explosion of dynamite sent waters rushing into rat-hole mine on May 30.
In Shillong, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma confirmed that what appeared to be two bodies were spotted in the mine but said that the government is still awaiting official confirmation.
“We have to wait and see. The Navy and other teams are working day and night and we’ll see what results we get,” the CM said.
The rescue teams verified that the level of water had risen by four feet due to rainfall. More than 10 lakh litres have been pumped out of two mineshafts since the rescue efforts began.
