Shillong, Dec 15: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has suggested the district administration of East Jaiñtia Hills to call in the Oil Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and use their submersible water pumps in order to reduce the water level in a coal mine where 13 miners have been trapped in the district.

The rescue operation on the second day on Saturday did not yield any result.

The NDRF personnel had used underwater camera to detect the 13 miners, who have been trapped inside the coal pit at Ksan.

Sources said that the system could not locate any of the trapped miners in the main well of the 370-feet coal pit because of poor visibility.

As the water level in the coal pit did not recede much despite continuous pumping, officials of the NDRF suggested the district administration of East Jaiñtia Hills to call in the Oil Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to deploy its “submersible water pumps” to reduce the water level.

The operation will continue on Sunday morning.

Police have not been able to nab an owner of the coal mine, James Sukhlaiñ of Lumthari village.

However an owner of another coal mine where illegal mining was taking place, identified as Jrin alias Krip Chulet was arrested. The coal mine owner is from Narwan village.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered an interim ban on “rat-hole” coal mining in the state from April 17, 2014.

The NDRF has deployed 72 personnel besides 23 members from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and five members of the Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Service to rescue the trapped miners.