Sunday, April 20, 2025

Coal mines: a death trap in Jaintia Hills

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An uncovered and abandoned coal mine in Jaintia Hills ( ST file)
An uncovered and abandoned coal mine in Jaintia Hills. (ST file photo)

SHILLONG: Coal mines of East Jaintia Hills continue to be a den of deaths and murders as three dead bodies have been recovered from different coal pits of East Jaintia Hills in the month of February.
On Friday morning, one unidentified male body was recovered from a coal quarry at Soo Kilo and an FIR in this regard was lodged at Khliehriat police station by one T Rynjah.
On February 12, one unidentified decomposed female body was recovered from a coal mine at Jalyiah village and one Robin Dkhar had lodged a complaint at Khliehriat PS that in this regard.
In addition, the abandoned coal mines are also a matter of grave concern as many people slip into the abandoned coal mines since mines once used are just left open without caring for the pedestrians and on February 1, one coal labourer identified as Phising Suchiang slipped and fell down into an abandoned coal pit, while he was on his way from Khliehriat towards Wahsiej, Rymbai (EJH) and later succumbed to his injuries.
When contacted, East Jaintia Hills SP MK Dkhar said that the police have played its role into the incidents where people have lost their lives in the coal pits.
“We have registered cases against mine owners for their negligence,” he said while adding that there are many other departments who are looking into the activities in the coal mines.
When asked about the unidentified decomposed female body which was recovered from a coal mine at Jalyiah village, he said that the police is still awaiting the post-mortem report and nothing can be ruled out at the moment.

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