A rescue operation to evacuate about five miners trapped inside the Krem Ule in Umpleng under East Jaiñtia Hills District continues on Wednesday without any success.
The Fire and Emergency Service and SDRF have expressed their inability to enter the 500 ft coal pit as the water level rises. According to the team stationed at the site, the water level was at 152 feet and they could reach to only about 30 to 35 feet.
East Jaiñtia Hills Deputy Commissioner, E Kharmalki informed that a NDRF team will also reach the site to help in the operations.
Meanwhile, police have released a look out notice of a coal mine manager, Nizam Uddin who fled the scene following the incident. Police stated that he was the main culprit who did nothing to rescue the trapped labourers and threatened the survivors with dire consequences and chased them away from the mining site.
The incident has drawn attention again to illegal coal mining in Meghalaya as people have questioned the government on why the name of the coal mine owner was not revealed.