In a tragic turn of events in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, the bodies of three workers were recovered from a flooded coal mine on Friday, taking the total number of bodies retrieved to four. These workers were part of a group of nine who became trapped on Monday after a sudden gush of water flooded the 310-foot-deep quarry in Umrangsu.
The first body was pulled out from the mine on Wednesday, and efforts continue to rescue the remaining five workers, who are still feared trapped beneath the rubble and water. Among the three workers whose bodies were recovered on Friday was 27-year-old Ligen Magar, a local resident of Dima Hasao. Identification of the other two bodies is still in progress.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his condolences and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the rescue operation. “Rescue efforts in Umrangsu continue with unwavering resolve. Our hearts go out to the grieving, as we hold onto hope and strength in this difficult time,” Sarma said on social media.
The tragic incident took place in the 3 Kilo Coal Quarry, an abandoned mine that had been under the management of the Assam Mineral Development Corporation (AMDC) until three years ago. Chief Minister Sarma clarified that while the mine was not illegal, it had been abandoned for over a decade, and the workers had entered for the first time to extract coal when the flooding occurred.
Rescue operations are being conducted by multiple teams from central and state organizations, alongside the Indian Armed Forces, which includes personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Despite their best efforts, the situation is proving to be extremely challenging due to the hazardous conditions in the mine.
The flooded mine’s water, which has become acidic and murky after mixing with coal, has made the rescue operation difficult. The low visibility and dangerous conditions have complicated the task, even for experienced divers who are trained in deep-depth recovery. Remote-operated vehicles have also faced issues due to the low visibility and the complicated structure of the mine, which branches out into four small tunnels that lack a proper blueprint.
The rescue teams are continuing the dewatering process with specialized machines brought in by ONGC and Coal India, as they work tirelessly to locate and rescue the remaining trapped workers. The authorities have also arrested the leader of the workers and are investigating the matter further.
As the search continues, hopes remain high that the remaining workers will be rescued, but the challenging conditions inside the mine present significant hurdles in the ongoing efforts.
Sources By Agencies