Lumthari Coal Mine Tragedy: Pumping of water starts in nearby shafts

LUMTHARI COAL MINE TRAGEDY

“After three hours pumping the water in the old shaft nearby was found that the water level in the nearby old shaft receded up to six inches”

A Correspondent

Shillong: Rescuers on Tuesday has started pumping water from a shaft lying nearby the main illegal mine pit where 15 miners are trapped since December 13 last year.

According to spokesperson of the rescue operation, R Susngi, the water from the nearby shaft was being de-watered by the NDRF team from the Odisha Fire Service. As per the update by the spokesperson, on Tuesday evening, the rescuers from the Odisha Fire Service pumped water from the nearby old shaft located about 500 meters from the main shaft.

“After three hours pumping the water in the old shaft nearby was found that the water level in the nearby old shaft receded up to six inches,” Susngi said.

He also informed that the Indian Navy divers along with the NRDF personnel went down inside the main shaft at 4:30pm to check the water level under the main shaft and reported that the water level did not change. “The Odisha Fire Service will continue de-watering and expected that after eight hours pumping the water level can be determined,” the Spokesperson added.

Earlier, on Tuesday morning, the NDRF divers along Indian Navy diving team went down to the main shaft and jointly started operating on a strategy that was planned.

However, nothing is known about the whereabouts of the high power submersible pumps dispatched by the Coal India Limited from its various subsidiaries since December 26.

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