IAF, Coal India teams to reach Meghalaya mine site today to rescue 15 trapped diggers

Indian Air Force spokesperson Ratnakar Singh said the National Disaster Management Authority has requested the IAF to airlift rescuers from Bhubaneswar to either Guwahati or Shillong airport on Friday.

15 diggers have been trapped in a illegal coal mine in Meghalaya (Image: ANI)

Shillong: The Indian Air Force and Coal India rescue team are expected to reach the coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district where 15 diggers have been trapped for almost a fortnight. Two teams of a private pump manufacturing company, which has volunteered to provide equipment to drain out water from the rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya where 15 diggers are trapped  had arrived at the site on Thursday. Superintendent of Police Sylvester Mongtynger said two teams from Kirloskar Brothers Ltd arrived on Thursday to help in rescuing the miners trapped in the 370-foot-deep illegal mine. "We are deeply concerned about the trapped miners in Meghalaya and are ready to help in whichever way possible. We are in touch with the officials of the Government of Meghalaya to offer our assistance in this regard," Kirloskar Brothers Ltd said in a statement late on Wednesday night. Indian Air Force spokesperson Ratnakar Singh said the National Disaster Management Authority has requested the IAF to airlift rescuers from Bhubaneswar to either Guwahati or Shillong airport on Friday. Sources in Coal India Ltd said on Thursday officers and surveyors are on their way to the site. Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday came out all guns blazing at Prime Minister and said that at a time when 15 miners were trapped in Meghalaya coal mine, Narendra Modi was “posing for cameras”. He accused PM Modi of going ahead with photo optics and strutting on the Bogibeel bridge on the mighty Brahmaputra river after inaugurating it on Tuesday. (With Agency Inputs)