GAUHATI, India — Thirteen young miners were missing and feared dead following the collapse of a shaft and flooding of a coal mine they were digging illegally in India’s remote northeast, police said Friday. He said authorities would crack down on illegal mining groups. Those missing are believed to be teenage boys used by illegal mining groups to enter “rat hole'” mines with small openings. Last month, an activist, Agnes Kharshiing, was assaulted by people involved in illegal mining when she visited the area to protest their activities. Operations by illegal mining groups have led to accidents.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 14, 2018 09:00 UTC