Two team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Guwahati has been rushed to Meghalaya to rescue trapped miners in a coal pit in South Garo Hills, an official said.

A magisterial probe has been ordered to probe into the coal mine tragedy, while police arrested Punjab-based mine operator Gurdeep Singh for act of negligence causing death to the miners.

Fifteen miners, whose hope of surviving is very bleak, trapped in a coal pit after they accidentally punctured the wall of an abandoned mine full of water at Nengkol.

“A 31 member NDRF team from Guwahati is on the way to Nengkol to rescue the miners trapped in the coal pit for the past six days,” District Magistrate RP. Marak said.

On Friday, 30 miners were working inside the coal pit, fifteen managed to come out while 15 others got trapped inside after they accidentally punctured the wall of an abandoned mine filled with gallons of water gushed out inside the mine.

“Chances of survival of the fifteen miners are very bleak as they have trapped in the coal pit for past six days. We have been pumping the water out the water from the coal pit but it has not receded,” Marak said.

He added: “Had the mine owner came forward and informed about the tragedy in time. The government would surely act in time to rescue and save their lives.”  Meanwhile, Meghalaya police arrested mine operator Gurdeep Singh for act of negligence causing death to the miners.

“We have arrested Gurdeep Singh for his act of negligence causing death to the miners and a case has been registered against him under Section 304 (a) of the Indian Penal Code,” for negligent action,” Davis R Marak, the district police chief of South Garo Hills said

Coal mine accidents are common in the mountainous state because of unscientific mining commonly known “rat hole mining”. Due to unscientific coal mining, the water sources of many of rivers, especially in Jaintia Hills district, have turned acidic.