Bring out body from Meghalaya mine: Kin

GUWAHATI/SHILLONG: The families of the trapped Meghalaya miners have requested the state government to retrieve the body spotted by the navy’s Remotely Operated Vehicle on Wednesday. But government officials appear reluctant as they fear the body could “disintegrate” in the process of being pulled out.

“We want the body,” said Manik Ali, whose 20-year-old brother Monirul Islam is among at least 15 miners trapped in the flooded rat-hole mine since December 13.

“Even if they manage to get a finger or a bone out of the shaft, it’s fine by us. We are Muslims. According to the Quran, we have to bury the dead. We will at least be able to bury the dead with some respect,” Ali said.

Ali, who represents three trapped miners from Assam’s Chirang district, and Aminul Uddin, from Hojai district, were called by the district administration on Thursday to see footage of the body.

“They showed us the video. The body is swollen. The face cannot be seen, so we cannot make out who it is,” said Aminul, who works at the same coal mine with his elder brother, Kuti Miya.

Aminul was lucky because he went home on December 7 to vote in Assam’s panchayat elections.

“On the evening of December 13, I got to know that my brother is trapped,” he said, adding, “I have lived with my brother all my life. I will be able to recognize him.”

Ali added, “I can recognize my brother even if I get to see the ring on his finger.”

Government officials, meanwhile, seemed reluctant to retrieve the body.

“The deputy commissioner is talking to the next of kin of the trapped miners and trying to convince them that it is very difficult to retrieve the bodies,” said Peter Ingty, additional chief secretary, who is overseeing rescue operations.

At least 200 personnel from the Navy, NDRF, Odisha Fire Service, State Disaster Response Force and other agencies are involved in the rescue.

The Supreme Court last week pulled up the state government for not taking concerted action against illegal mining but said rescue efforts must continue.

“Carry on with your rescue efforts, what if all or at least some are still alive? Miracles do happen,” a bench headed by Justice AK Sikri said.