Shillong, June 2: A six-day-long rescue operation by State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel came to an end after they retrieved the body of a 41-year-old person from an abandoned coal mine at Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills.
The person accidentally fallen into the abandoned mine near the old Deputy Commissioner’s Office at Khliehriat on May 26 while attempting to fetch drinking water.
The matter was reported to SDRF the following day and accordingly SDRF personnel rushed to the site, according to an official statement.
However, rescue efforts could not begin immediately due to fading daylight and concerns over safety conditions inside the mine, estimated to be around 120-foot deep with 40 feet of water.
After days of continuous pumping and search efforts, four SDRF personnel along with two local volunteers descended into the mine around 6.30 pm and retrieved the body around 9 pm.
“Family members of the victim and local residents assisted authorities throughout the operation by helping operate the equipment and supporting the rescue teams on the ground,” the statement said.
The body was subsequently handed over to the police for completion of the necessary legal formalities.
