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Indian miners: Navy divers deployed in rescue bid | Indian miners: Navy divers deployed in rescue bid |
(35 minutes later) | |
A team of Indian navy divers has been deployed in a bid to rescue 15 workers trapped inside a flooded coal mine. | A team of Indian navy divers has been deployed in a bid to rescue 15 workers trapped inside a flooded coal mine. |
The men had entered the illegal pit, known as a "rat hole", in the north-eastern state of Meghalaya on 13 December, and were cut off when floodwater from a nearby river poured in. | The men had entered the illegal pit, known as a "rat hole", in the north-eastern state of Meghalaya on 13 December, and were cut off when floodwater from a nearby river poured in. |
Emergency workers equipped with high-power pumps have arrived at the scene. | Emergency workers equipped with high-power pumps have arrived at the scene. |
It is not yet clear whether the miners are still alive. | It is not yet clear whether the miners are still alive. |
India's NDTV reports that divers have recovered nothing but three helmets so far. | India's NDTV reports that divers have recovered nothing but three helmets so far. |
Officials hope the men may have found an air pocket in the main mineshaft. | Officials hope the men may have found an air pocket in the main mineshaft. |
"Only God's grace and some miracle can help them to be alive," Kyrmen Shylla, Meghalaya's disaster management minister, told Reuters on Wednesday. | "Only God's grace and some miracle can help them to be alive," Kyrmen Shylla, Meghalaya's disaster management minister, told Reuters on Wednesday. |
Earlier rescue efforts by India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were hampered by a lack of equipment. Initially, only two low-power pumps were on hand to drain the water. | Earlier rescue efforts by India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were hampered by a lack of equipment. Initially, only two low-power pumps were on hand to drain the water. |
The 112m (370ft)-deep coal mine where the workers are trapped lies in the remote East Jaintia Hills district. | |
Rat-hole mining involves digging pits into the ground to create a narrow hole to find coal, and is dangerous for those involved. Workers, including children, descend into the mines using bamboo ladders and accidents are common. | Rat-hole mining involves digging pits into the ground to create a narrow hole to find coal, and is dangerous for those involved. Workers, including children, descend into the mines using bamboo ladders and accidents are common. |
The practice was banned in 2014, but mine owners have challenged the ruling in India's Supreme Court. | The practice was banned in 2014, but mine owners have challenged the ruling in India's Supreme Court. |
Most of Meghalaya's illegal miners are migrant labourers who come from neighbouring states to earn money. | Most of Meghalaya's illegal miners are migrant labourers who come from neighbouring states to earn money. |
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