Shillong, May 31: The Meghalaya police said that based on information received from Superintendent of Police. Silchar about six mine workers being trapped in a coal mine in East Jaintia Hills on the night of 30 ‘ May 2021 the district police were able to id.ntiV the probable location of indentify at 06;00AM today 31n May 2021.
The delay in identification of probable site was due to Inclement weather, poor night light condition and non-availability of any eye witness account higher authorities were appraised about the probable incident and in collaboration with District Administration search and rescue operation was launched.
The State Disaster Response Team also reached the probable location of Incident thereafter. While the search and rescue operation was on under the supervision of Inspector General of Police Law & Order, six persons came forward with eye witness account of the events that transpired on the 30th of May 2021 at 5.00 PM today.
As per eye witness account due to the sudden explosion of dynamite, five persons got trapped in the sudden rush of water into the mine. Within no time the mine was inundated.
The main culprit as per eye witnesses is Sordar by name of Shri Nizam Ali who did nothing to rescue the trapped labourers. Rather Nizam Ali threatened the survivors with dire consequences and chased them away from the mining site.
Based on their account FIR is registered at Khliehriat Police Station vide Khllehriat PS Case No. 35(05)2021 u/s 188/269/270/304A IPC R/w section 21(5) MMDR Act R/W section SI(b) Disaster Management Act The survivors are being looked after by police to ensure their security.
Further, investigation is on and no stone is being left unturned to arrest the Sordar of the mine.Till filing of this report one person has been detained for questioning.
Unfortunately, he has tested positive for Covid-19 and is being kept under guard at Isolation Centre at Khliehriat, the missing person are, Mr. Abdul Karim from Boko, Mr. Abdul Kalam from Barpeta both of them are from Assam and the two others yet to be identified are also from Assam,Mr. Shyamcharan Debbarma from Tripura.
