By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 9: The search and rescue operation following the deadly coal mine explosion at Mynsngat in the Thangsko area of East Jaintia Hills district was officially called off at 5 pm of Monday, after authorities concluded that no more bodies remained at the site.
East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Manish Kumar submitted a closure report to Chief Secretary Shakil P. Ahammed, stating that the decision was taken after being satisfied with the extensive efforts made by the rescue teams and based on their assessment that no further recoveries were possible.
“Having been satisfied with the efforts made by the Search and Rescue Teams of the NDRF, SDRF, SRT and the local miners, and their verbal opinion that no more dead bodies are left at the site, the operation was finally called off. Hence, the search and rescue operation is declared to be over,” the Deputy Commissioner said in the closure report.
According to the closure report, the search operation began on February 5, soon after the explosion, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Special Rescue Team (SRT) reaching the site. Local miners also assisted in the operation.
On the first day, 18 bodies were recovered, while eight injured persons were rescued and provided immediate medical assistance. The injured were later referred to different hospitals—one to Jowai Civil Hospital, one to Nazareth Hospital in Shillong, and six to NEIGRIHMS, Shillong.
The operation resumed the following day, during which four more bodies were recovered.
Meanwhile, two injured persons who had been taken home by their families later succumbed to their injuries and their bodies were shifted to Jowai Civil Hospital. Another injured person died while undergoing treatment at NEIGRIHMS.
On February 7, rescue teams recovered two additional bodies during the first half of the operation. No recoveries were made during the second half of the day. A thorough search conducted on February 8 yielded no further bodies, and the search continued again on February 9 with similar results until it was called off.
