Odisha Fire-Services team leaves for Meghalaya to rescue trapped miners
A team of the Odisha Fire Services, carrying 20 high-power pumps, today left for Meghalaya to assist in the search and rescue of the 15 laborers trapped in a flooded rat-hole coal mine in the northeastern state, officials said. The miners are trapped in a 370ft-deep illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya since December 13. Read the details here.
Team carrying 20 high-power pumps left in special IAF aircraft
Director General of Fire Services, B K Sharma said a 20-member team led by chief fire officer Sukanta Sethi left for Shillong in a special Indian Air Force aircraft with equipment, including 20 high-power pumps. He said each pump is capable of flushing out 1,600-liter water per minute. "They will assist local authorities in the rescue of the trapped coal miners," he added.
Odisha endowed with experience of handling such calamities: Official
"Odisha is among the few states endowed with the experience of handling such calamities," the official said. The fire services personnel are also armed with several other high-tech equipment and gadgets for use during the rescue mission, he said. The team will first study and analyze the situation at the site before working out plans for the search and rescue mission, the official said.
'Our men are well-trained and capable of handling any situation'
Noting that carrying out the rescue operation in a coal mine will be a unique experience for Odisha Fire Services personnel, Sharma said, "Our men are well-trained and capable of handling any situation." They have successfully carried out difficult rescue operations within and outside the state, including Kerala in the past, with the help of well-trained and experienced personnel, said the official.
Odisha fire service personnel had also helped during Kerala floods
A team of 240 Odisha fire service personnel had assisted in the rescue operation of flood-ravaged Kerala in August this year. Earlier, in 2014, the personnel had taken part in relief and rescue operations in Andhra Pradesh during cyclone Hudhud.
