NEW DELHI: In Assam’s Dima Hasao district, rescue teams are intensifying efforts to save miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso. On January 8, 2025, divers from the Indian Army’s 21 Para Special Forces recovered the body of one miner from the waterlogged site.
The incident began on January 6 when water from an adjacent unused mine flooded the active mining site, trapping at least nine workers underground, the NDRF confirmed on Wednesday. The mine, approximately 300 feet deep with intricate tunnel networks, presents significant challenges for rescue operations. Rescue teams, including personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), are working tirelessly to locate and extract the remaining miners.
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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the recovery of the miner’s body and expressed condolences to the bereaved family. He also indicated that the mine appears to have been operating illegally, leading to the arrest of an individual named Punish Nunisa under relevant sections of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
The rescue operation faces numerous obstacles, including high water levels estimated at around 100 feet within the mine. Specialized equipment, such as high-capacity suction pumps, is being deployed to dewater the mine shafts. Additionally, Navy divers equipped with remotely operated vehicles are conducting underwater searches to locate the trapped miners.
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The miners trapped include individuals from various regions, including Assam, West Bengal, and Nepal. Their identities have been shared by Himanta on X as Ganga Bahadur Shreth, Hussain Ali, Jakir Hussain, Sarpa Barman, Mustafa Seikh, Khusi Mohan Rai, Sanjit Sarkar, Lijan Magar, and Sarat Goyary.
This tragic event underscores the persistent dangers associated with illegal mining operations in India’s northeastern states. Despite a 2014 ban on hazardous “rat-hole” mining practices due to their high fatality rates and environmental impact, such activities continue clandestinely, leading to frequent accidents. In 2019, a similar incident in Meghalaya resulted in the deaths of at least 15 miners, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by workers in unregulated mining sectors.
The current situation remains critical, with rescue teams working against time and challenging conditions to save the remaining trapped miners.