
On the 18th day of rescue operation for 15 miners stuck in a rat-hole mine in Meghalaya, Navy divers will attempt diving again today with sophisticated equipment called drager.
Drager is a capsule which enables one to diver further, deeper. With the help of the equipment, the divers hope to reach the mouth of the mine where miners are believed to be stuck.
However, the chilling water of the river inside the mine is likely to pose a threat to the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, Odisha state department's high-capacity water pumps are stationed at the site to suckout water from the nearby shafts.
Coal India is expected to send special submersible pumps of 100 horsepower which can help in taking water out from the mines more effectively. The pumps may reach the site today or by Tuesday morning.
Navy divers on Sunday went inside the inundated mine in the search of the 15 trapped miners in East Jaintia Hills. The team returned disappointed after diving upto 70 feet deep, news agency PTI reported.
Despite the deep dive, the team was not able to reach the ground level. SK Singh, Assistant Commandant, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said, "Divers have come out now. They have said that the depth of water is too much. They dived till 70 feet down but still have not been able to reach the ground level."
"Water is chilling which makes it difficult for divers to carry out the operation. We are trying our best. Tomorrow Navy Team will go inside with sophisticated equipment that they have. We are hoping for a better output tomorrow," said the official.
A 15-member diving team of the Navy from Vishakhapatnam arrived at Meghalaya on Saturday.
The Indian Air Force had also provided two aircraft to Meghalaya government for airlifting specialist personnel of the NDRF from Odisha for helping in the rescue operations. Union Defence Ministry has promised all help to the state government.
15 miners have been trapped in a 370-feet deep illegal mine in Lumthari village in Meghalaya since December 13. Water from the nearby river Lytein has flooded the mine making rescue operations more challenging.