Shillong, December 17 (PTI): Five days since 13 miners were reportedly trapped in a rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district; all efforts to locate them have turned futile.
The miners were now feared dead as water from a nearby river has been gushing into the 370-feet-deep pit.
One person,identified as Krip Chullet, has been arrested so far pertaining to the case. Chullet was allegedly involved in hiring labourers, overseeing the work and sending them down the shaft.
A senior district official, who is supervising the operation, told PTI that authorities have drawn a blank over the past five days in their attempt to pump out water from the mine.
"There is no sign of dip in water level even after putting three pumps into service. We have not been able to trace any victim as yet," he said.
Over 100 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with police teams, are waiting for the water level to subside to begin rescue operations, the official said.
According toan expert in water resources management, over 5 lakh litres of water, reaching up to 70 feet, is estimated to be present in the main shaft of the mine.
"It seems water from nearby Ltein river is refilling the mine even as the pumps are in operation," he said.
The survival of the trapped miners depends on the oxygen supply, water level and the temperature inside, a doctor of a reputed hospital in Shillong said.
