Khliehriat Dec 30: NDRF and Indian Navy personnel began their operation on Sunday to locate the 15 miners who have been trapped inside a coal pit at Khloo Ryngksan in East Jaiñtia Hills district for the last 18 days since December 13.

Two divers of the Indian Navy dived 70 feet down but could not locate the trapped miners.

East Jaintia Hills, Superintendent of Police, S. Nongtnger said that around 20 lakh litres of water was pumped out till December 24, and pumping of water by using the 10 high-powered pumps brought by the Odisha Fire Services will resume on Monday.

A.K.Bhorali, General Manager of Coal Indian Ltd, Kolkata said that more machines will reach soon along with huge pipes.

To operate the heavy machines, the Coal India Ltd has requested the district administration to make one platform for installing the heavy machineries for carrying out the operation.

Bhorali said that survey was being conducted at the area to find out whether other coal pits are also connecting with the coal mine that trapped the miners.

Santosh Kumar Singh, Assistant Commandant of the 1st Battalion NDRF termed the joint operation with the Indian Navy as “good.”

“I expect that we can reach the bottom of the pit to locate the trapped miners. I expect that this joint operation by using heavy machineries will be successful,” Singh said.