<p>"We have confirmed that three miners died due to evaporation of sulpur dioxide gas inside a coal pit in Garugittim," Kamal Medhi of Samrakshan Trust told IANS. <br /><br />Garugittim is located near the Balpakram National Park, which also covers the Siju Bird Sanctuary. <br /><br />Though the tragedy occured Aug 24, Medhi said the incident came to light only Sunday after two miners came out alive from the 100-feet pit and told the villagers about the tragedy. <br />"The bodies of the three miners are still lying inside the pit," Medhi said. <br /><br />Coal mine accidents are common in the mountainous state because of unscientific mining commonly known 'rat hole mining'. <br /><br />Due to unscientific coal mining, the water sources of many of rivers, especially in Jaintia Hills district, have turned acidic. <br /></p>
<p>"We have confirmed that three miners died due to evaporation of sulpur dioxide gas inside a coal pit in Garugittim," Kamal Medhi of Samrakshan Trust told IANS. <br /><br />Garugittim is located near the Balpakram National Park, which also covers the Siju Bird Sanctuary. <br /><br />Though the tragedy occured Aug 24, Medhi said the incident came to light only Sunday after two miners came out alive from the 100-feet pit and told the villagers about the tragedy. <br />"The bodies of the three miners are still lying inside the pit," Medhi said. <br /><br />Coal mine accidents are common in the mountainous state because of unscientific mining commonly known 'rat hole mining'. <br /><br />Due to unscientific coal mining, the water sources of many of rivers, especially in Jaintia Hills district, have turned acidic. <br /></p>