Ray of hope for trapped miners
Indian Navy moves equipment, personnel for rescue
S Vishnu Sharmaa, INN/Chennai, @svs037
While the news of trapped miners in Meghalaya is causing concern for all, ray of hope comes as Indian Navy has geared to take up rescue operations.
According to sources from Defence Ministry, Indian Navy has deployed a 15 member diving team from Vishakapatnam to assist in the rescue operations for the missing miners. An initial assessment to determine an affective response was undertaken by Navy.
Further, a team of 11 divers along with special equipment including underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was airlifted from Vishakapatnam to Guwahati on the morning of December 29.
The team along with the equipment will be transported by Indian Air Force helicopters from Guwahati to the nearest helipad at Khleihriat and is expected to reach the accident site by late night of December 29. The naval diving team is also expected to join the rescue operations on the morning of 30 December.
Earlier, an advance recce team comprising one officer and two clearance divers were airlifted by a naval dornier to Guwahati, the team reached the spot by late night on 28 December to assess the nature of rescue operation. About 15 miners are trapped in the flooded rat-hole Ksan coal mines in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya since December 13.