Meghalaya Minister comments on ‘killer mine’ Situation, Rescue Operations Underway

Guwahati, December 18,2018:

With the 13 miners in the Meghalaya ‘killer mine’ still feared trapped, the Meghalaya cabinet Minister James Sangma made some statements from his office today.

Assuring that the owner of the mine, James Sukhlain, has been identified, Sangma added: “A case has been registered against him and all relevant sections of the IPC have been invoked.” Sangma also assured that the police are trying to find the location of the absconding suspect.

Sangma lamented that the government does not have enough manpower to comb each and every area for similar illegal rat-hole mines, since the department also has to deal with law and order. Regardless, Sangma said that the police force would swing into action once “specific information” regarding such mines is found.

Commenting on the rescue operations at the East Jaintia Hills mine where thirteen miners have been trapped since December 13, the CM expressed faith in the NDRF’s ability to resolve the situation. But he added that rescue operations have been complicated by the mine’s proximity to a river, which requires water to be pumped out simultaneously while rescue operations are held.