Summary:
SHILLONG: Three days since 13 miners were trapped in a rat-hole coal mine in the East Jaintia Hills, feared dead by now, efforts to trace them have been fruitless so far. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force continued their search but are facing a stiff challenge with flooding of the coal pit. Amita had named a leader of the ruling National People's Party, Nidamon Chulet, as the main accused, who is yet to be traced. We are confident that whoever else is culpable in the case will be apprehended soon," AR Mawthoh, deputy inspector general (Eastern Range), said. Rat-hole mining, however, continues illegally and has led to the creation of several channels within the coal pit, from where it is difficult to retrieve anyone, a police official said.On Thursday, the 13 miners were trapped after the 370-feet-deep mine was flooded while they were inside..