Shillong, Jul 10 (IANS) Fifteen coal miners drowned after they accidentally punctured the wall of an abandoned mine full of water in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills, an official said Tuesday.
"Fifteen coal miners drowned in a coal pit after they accidentally punctured the walls of an abandoned mine filled with several thousandgallons of water at Nengkol," District Magistrate RP. Marak told IANS.
However, another 15 miners who were in the coal pit managed to escape.
Though the tragedy occurred July 6, Marak said the incident came to light only Tuesday after the district officials rushed to the area on hearing about the tragedy and confirmed t.
"The bodies of the 15 miners are still lying inside the pit and rescue work is on to retrieve the bodies," Marak 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.
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