Shillong, Feb 8: Rescuers did not add to the body count or find any further survivors from the Thangsko mine explosion, with the death toll remaining at 27.
However, in their belated drive against illegal mining operations, the authorities seized 300.7 tonnes of illegal coal, tools and 204 gelatin sticks today. This adds to the roughly 7,000 tonnes of illegal coal seized since the explosion at an illegal mine in Thangsko on Thursday.
Twenty-seven people died in the blast and fewer than ten are being treated in hospitals for their injuries. However, many more are thought to be unaccounted for.
Today rescue and recovery operations continued with teams from the State and National Disaster Response Forces (SDRF and NDRF), Special Rescue Team (SRT), police and district administration.
The affected mine sites were thoroughly searched and operations will resume tomorrow morning to ensure complete coverage, an update from the EJH Deputy Commissioner informed this evening.
Five teams of Executive Magistrates, police and officials from the Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR) have been formed to crack down on illegal mining in the district.
During the drive today, 38 tonnes of coal were seized from two locations under Lumnongthymme, 87 tonnes from one location under Lumbangla and 175.7 tonnes from two locations under Rangad along with tools and one box of suspected gelatin sticks (204 numbers).
In addition, makeshift camps used in connection with illegal mining activities were identified and destroyed during the enforcement operations. FIRs have been registered in connection with reported illegal mining activities.
