SHILLONG, Jan 1 - The �Operation Ksan� in East Jaintia Hills continued today with the Indian Navy, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Odisha Fire Service making a coordinated effort to pump out water from the flooded mineshaft. But only six inches of water could be removed at the end of the day.
The Odisha Fire Service tried to �dewater� the mineshaft with their pumps, which flushed out water for several hours. Indian Navy divers, along with NDRF personnel, went down the main shaft at 4.30 this evening to check the water level. They later reported that the water level had not receded much. It was later found that the water level in the nearby shafts had reduced by six inches.
Apart from the main shaft where the miners had descended, two other shafts located nearby are being dewatered. The Odisha Fire Service has undertaken the task of pumping out water from these shafts.
According to officials, the Indian Navy, the NDRF and the Odisha Fire Service are working on different strategies to flush out water. Unless the water is pumped out, the Navy divers will not be able get into the mine. Conventionally, the divers can get into a depth of 30 feet in a pressurised tank like the mine in the East Jaintia Hills.
The operations will continue tomorrow.
