Meghalaya: Breakthrough in Sutnga coal mine rescue ops; body of one miner recovered

With little breakthrough in the ongoing multi-agency search and rescue operation at Krem Ule in Meghalaya’s Sutnga area, a body of one of the missing miners has been recovered from the ill-fated coal mine site on Wednesday.

The victims body was brought out of the mine site by rescue workers who have been working at the site for 17 days now.

According to reports, another body which has been detected with the first one is likely to be retrieved tomorrow. Meanwhile, three other miners remain missing inside the coal mine site.

The Navy on Tuesday detected two objects, which they suspected to be as bodies of the miners. The operation to retrieve the second ‘suspicious object’ was called off as the visibility in the water was affected during the retrieval of the first body.

Earlier, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday informed that divers of the Indian Navy, who are engaged in search and rescue operation at the mine site, have been able to spot two suspicious objects.

As per preliminary reports, the suspicious objects suggests two bodies. However, an official confirmation to this is awaited.

At least five miners got trapped inside the coal mine at Sutnga in East Jaintia Hills on May 31. All the trapped miners are feared dead.

Teams of the Indian Navy, SDRF, NDRF and Meghalala fire and emergency services have undertaken the rescue mission ever since the miners got trapped in the rat-hole mine.