Miners rescue operation affected due to flooding of nearby

The multi-agency operations to rescue the remaining 14 coal miners trapped inside a 370-foot deep illegal coal mine in Meghalaya over four months ago was affected Wednesday after nearby Ltein river swelled rendering the rescuers unable to reach to the site, officials said.

The Navy had recently called off its rescue operation at tne coal mine. But, NDRF and some civil and police agencies of Meghalaya are still continuing with the search work at the rat hole mine where the tragedy had struck on December 13 last year.

The whole area is flooded after incessant rainfall had caused the nearby Ltein river to swell. It is not possible for the rescuers to reach the site, East Jaintia Hills deputy commissioner F M Dopth told PTI.

Rescuers had to cross the Lytein river three times in order to reach to the mines and the main shaft located at the side of a hillock where the miners were trapped and feared dead.

Nine of the 10 high pressure pumps belonging to the Coal India Ltd, the .