An expert rescue team of Nagpur-headquartered Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) has gone to Assam to take part in the operations to rescue labourers trapped inside a quarry in Umrangso, some 250 kilometres from Guwahati in the north-eastern state, an official said here on Thursday. The labourers were trapped inside the 3-Kilo Coal Quarry on Monday after a sudden gush of water flooded the site. According to employees of the quarry, there were around 15 workers inside the illegal mine when water breached one of the walls and flooded the entire shaft and tunnels.
“A five-member team was flown to the accident site in a C-130 Hercules plane on January 8. The team is equipped with massive submersible pump that can pump out 500 gallons of water per minute at a height of 150 metres, complex cable network, starters and other equipment to help in the rescue operations,” a WCL release said.
