Navy faces hurdles in retrieving second body

SHILLONG/ JOWAI: Indian Navy divers on Sunday tried without success to retrieve the body their underwater remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) had detected inside the rat-hole coal mine at Ksan in East Jaintia Hills on Saturday.
It was the second body that the ROV has detected so far.
At least 15 miners are believed to be trapped in the mine since December 13.
The navy located the body lying at a depth of 280 feet in one of the horizontal tunnels. Official sources on Sunday said the presence of assorted materials, besides poor visibility in the main shaft, came in the way of the navy divers retrieving the body.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the PIL filed by Aditya N Prasad on the ongoing rescue operations on Monday.
The court had earlier stated that the miners were to be brought out dead or alive. Families of the trapped miners have also demanded the same.
Coal Indian Ltd had pumped out water from two old shafts for 34 hours from Saturday evening until Sunday evening. The total water discharged was 45,90,000 litres.
Due to mechanical glitch, the Kirloskar pump had to stop pumping work but will continue soon after repairing, it was informed. Installation of the platform in one of the old shafts is in progress.
Meanwhile, the body of one of the miners which was retrieved on Thursday was handed over to his wife and mother by the police in the presence of Deputy Commissioner FM Dopth on Saturday.
The District administration has also provided a mortuary van for transportation of the body to Chirang. The funeral was held on the same day at his village Nij Damugaon under Panbari police in Chirang district of Assam.
Guv message
Governor Tathagata Roy said during his speech on Republic Day that the government “is deeply pained by the tragic incident” and despite the challenging circumstances, “the government is continuing with the operations in collaboration with the various agencies”.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the miners,” he added.