5 member ECL rescue team arrives in abondoned coal mine

Purulia, Aug 8 (UNI) A five-member Eastern Coalfield Limited rescue team, led by General Manager of Sodepur K P Singh, today arrived at the accident site of abondoned mine under Neturia police station area in Purulia district.

Talking to the UNI here, Mr Singh said, ''It is really a tough task to carry out the rescue operation. Without dewatering at least 50 feet of water, rescue operations will not be possible.'' Earlier, a team of ECL rescue workers tried to rescue people but it was called off later.

The team of rescue workers have brought two big sucking pumps and other machines for dewatering the mine. It was reported that the mine was filled with 100 feet deep water but rescue team failed to dewater even four inches.

The accident occurred on August 2 afternoon when labourers, specially from surrounding Jharkhand, were trapped. At least 35 people were feared to be dead inside the abondoned coal mine because of a flash flood.

UNI XC JYN KLC/src1823