Ksan coal mine rescue ops enter 24×7 phase

SHILLONG: Rescue operations at Ksan to trace miners trapped in rat-hole coal mine there since December 13 changed gears to become a 24×7 exercise from Tuesday, a day after the Supreme Court asked the Centre and the state government to continue the ongoing nearly 50-day-long effort.
The army, which was deployed at the site on Monday to provide logistical support to the Navy, became fully operational on Tuesday.
State Disaster Management Minister Kyrmen Shylla on Tuesday informed that the rescue operations will now continue round-the-clock.
“The army has already set up camp to provide all logistical support and since they are there, the operations will now be carried out
round-the-clock,” he said while hoping the step will give a thrust to the ongoing effort.
The operations have so far thrown up the body of a miner identified as Amir Hussain from Assam’s Chirang district and detection of another, but which is yet to be retrieved from the mine. Fifteen miners were trapped in the mine when water flooded it.
The minister said five pumps were at work to de-water some mines in the vicinity of the ill-fated one. It is believed that pumping out water from these mines will lead to fall in the water level in the main shaft, which would then facilitate the Navy and NDRF divers to move in.
Shylla said constant efforts were on even as the rescuers were faced with tremendous hardship and obstacles while trying to retrieve the second body which was detected on January 26.
Meanwhile, Defence Public Relations Officer, Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh, said a team of 30-35 army personnel have set up base. Fifteen tents have been erected for both the army and navy personnel to stay at the site. The navy personnel, who were living away, have now moved in, too.