National

Army joins rescue operations to track trapped miners in Meghalaya

Indian Army Rajnath Singh

Shillong | The Indian Army has joined the multi-agency operations to search for the remaining 13 miners trapped inside a 370-foot-deep coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district, officials said on Tuesday.

“The Indian Navy had requested the Army to assist in rescue operations by providing administrative support and it has now set up camps at the site,” defence spokesperson Ratnakar Singh told PTI.

An Army team comprising about 20-25 members has been deployed to support the Navy, he said.

“This is only administrative support to the Navy in case need be, for efficient, smooth and round-the-clock operations,” Singh added.

Nearly 200 rescue personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian Navy, Odisha Fire Service and state agencies are involved in the search-and-rescue operation.

Although two decomposed bodies of the miners have been found over 200 feet away from the bottom of the main shaft, only one of them could be pulled out and was handed over to family members in Assam.

Efforts are underway to retrieve the remains of the second miner, but the operation is taking longer as there are many obstacles like the turbidity of water, the officials said.

On December 13, water from the nearby Lytein River flooded a network of tunnels in the illegal rat-hole coal mine in Lumthari village of East Jaintia Hills, trapping the 15 men and prompting the multiple-agency rescue attempt.

The owner of the mine, Krip Chullet, was arrested from his home on December 14. His accomplices are on the run.

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Politics

TN CM Palaniswami condoles demise of George Fernandes

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Chennai | Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Tuesday condoled the demise of former defence minister George Fernandes, hailing him as a “multi-faceted” personality.

His demise is a “great loss” to the country, the chief minister said.

Fernandes (88), who died Tuesday, was one of the politically important leaders in the country and had founded the Samata Party before going on to hold various posts in Janata Dal, Palaniswami said.

Fernandes was elected as Lok Sabha MP nine times and had performed efficiently, he noted.

“He was a multi-faceted personality, being a politician, trade union leader and journalist. He was a good administrator and a hard working person who was affable to all,” the chief minister said in a statement.

“The demise of former Union minister George Fernandes is a great loss for India,” he said and extended his sympathies to the departed leader’s family and supporters.

Palaniswami also prayed for Fernandes’ soul reaching the holy abode.

Fernandes passed away Tuesday following a prolonged illness. He was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and had recently contracted swine flu.

The socialist leader was the defence minister in the NDA government headed by late Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Fernandes held the industry portfolio in the Jan Sangh government, which defeated Indira Gandhi in 1977.

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