Meghalaya mine collapse: Navy personnel conduct a rescue task at the site of a coal mine collapse at Ksan, in Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, (PTI Photo) Meghalaya mine collapse: Navy personnel conduct a rescue task at the site of a coal mine collapse at Ksan, in Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, (PTI Photo)

Navy divers came out of the Meghalaya mine on the 17th day of the operation that is being carried on to rescue 15 trapped miners, reported ANI. S K Singh, assistant commandant, NDRF, said that according to the divers, the depth of water is too much. They dived till around 70 feet, but were still not able to reach the ground level, he told ANI.

He further said the water inside is chilling cold and this is making it difficult for the rescue team to carry out their operation. “We’re hoping for a better output tomorrow,” he said.

A team leader from the Indian Navy and NDRF personnel had gone inside a 370-foot-deep mine, to ascertain the water level inside on Sunday afternoon, PTI reported officials to have said. The Navy divers and their equipment arrived at the site around 1.30 pm Sunday after which the personnel started measuring the actual level of the water in the mine shaft, reported PTI. The Navy wanted to ascertain the water level as their divers can operate up to 100 feet in a closed container-type situation, a district official said.

The 10 pumps brought by the rescue team from Odisha were kept on standby. Nearly 200 rescuers from various agencies were stationed at the site.

The workers were trapped in the ‘rat-hole’ mine since December 13, after water from the nearby Lytein river gushed into it. Seventeen days later, only three helmets have been recovered from the spot. Apart from lack of right equipment, the other big challenge before the rescuers has been the non-availability of the “mining map or blueprint” with the district authorities.

A 14-member Navy team led by Lt Commander R Khetwal and a 21-member Odisha Fire Service contingent visited the site to conduct a recce. The Navy divers are equipped with specialised diving equipment, including a re-compression chamber and remotely operated vehicles capable of searching underwater. The Indian Air Force also joined the rescue process Friday after the NDMA requested help to airlift the rescuers.

Pump manufacturing company Coal India Limited, has also dispatched 8 high powered pumps which are expected to reach the site in another 2 to 3 days. Chief Minister Conard Sangma had written to the company, requesting help in the mission. J K Borah, general manager North Eastern Coalfields of the Coal India Limited, told The Indian Express that the requisitioning of at least six pumps from locations like Ranchi, Dhanbad, and Asansol was initiated on Thursday.

Meghalaya mine collapse: In the last 17 days, only three helmets have been recovered. Meghalaya mine collapse: In the last 17 days, only three helmets have been recovered.

Kirloskar Brothers Ltd, which had provided technical expertise and equipment when a dozen soccer players and their coach was stranded inside a cave in Thailand, has also joined the process. The company has sent 10 high-powered pumps to the site.

The NDRF who are engaged in the rescue efforts since day-1 reported a “foul odour” near the mine. “That is not a good sign,” says Santosh Singh, NDRF Assistant Commandant, who is heading the rescue work. While he declines to comment further, NDRF personnel discuss that the “foul odour” could indicate that the miners are dead and the bodies are beginning to decompose.

The operations were halted last Saturday after the two 25-HP pumps used by the officials proved ineffective. The NDRF divers, as per their training and guidelines, only attempt rescue operations when the water level is less than 40 feet. Currently, the water in the mine is about 70-feet deep, which requires high-power pumps.

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