A body has been recovered from a coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, two days after water inundated the site, trapping nine workers. The mine, located in the Umrangso area, saw extensive rescue efforts involving personnel from the navy, army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
21 Para Divers from Visakhapatnam retrieved the body from the mine’s 340-foot-deep well in Umrangso’s 3 Kilo area. They conducted an initial survey before entering the flooded quarry. Meanwhile, de-watering pumps from the SDRF have arrived at the site, with an ONGC pump awaiting deployment upon weather clearance via an MI-17 helicopter stationed at Kumbhigram.
Rescue Operations Intensify
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the water level inside the mine had risen to nearly 100 feet, complicating rescue efforts. He confirmed discussions with Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy, who assured that Coal India teams would assist from Wednesday.
The workers trapped inside the mine have been identified as Ganga Bahadur Shreth, Hussain Ali, Jakir Hussain, Sarpa Barman, Mustafa Seikh, Khushi Mohan Rai, Sanjit Sarkar, Lijan Magar, and Sarat Goyary.
The Navy team is now spearheading the rescue efforts. https://t.co/IRIyde93AQ pic.twitter.com/GcHyoribrw
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 7, 2025
Investigation Points to Illegal Mining
Preliminary investigations suggest the mine may have been operating illegally. An FIR has been filed under various sections of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. A suspect, Punish Nunisa, has been arrested in connection with the incident.
“This appears to be an illegal mine,” said Chief Minister Sarma on X, adding that police are conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.
Rescue teams continue to work tirelessly to locate the remaining workers as the region and families of the victims hope for a breakthrough in this tragic incident.
