Rescue operations in Assam’s Dima Hasao district have entered their seventh day as efforts to locate five trapped workers at a flooded rat-hole coal mine in the 3 Kilo Umrangso area continue. The joint operation involves the Indian Army, Indian Navy, NDRF, and other agencies.
Rescue teams have retrieved four bodies from the inundated mine, where nine workers were initially trapped after water flooded the narrow tunnels.
- On January 8, the first body recovered was identified as Ganga Bahadur Shreth from Nepal.
- On January 11, three more bodies were recovered:
- Lijen Magar (27) from Kalamati village, Umrangso.
- Khusi Mohan Rai (57) from Magergaon, Kokrajhar, Assam.
- Sarat Goyary (37) from Thailapara, Sonitpur, Assam.
The search continues for the remaining five miners.
A 12-member rescue team from Coal India Limited has joined the operations to assist in locating and potentially rescuing the missing workers.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the tragedy.
In his letter, Gogoi expressed grave concern over the illegal nature of the mine and the lack of safety measures, stating:
“At least 10 coal mine workers are believed to be trapped after water inundated the mine, causing a collapse and flooding the narrow tunnels. As of now, the ongoing rescue operations have entered the fifth consecutive day, but the fate of these miners remains uncertain.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the registration of an FIR under Umrangso PS Case No: 02/2025. The charges include violations under Sections 3(5)/105 of the BNS, read with Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
One individual, Punish Nunisa, has been arrested in connection with the case. Sarma noted, “Prima facie, it appears to be an illegal mine.”
The incident highlights the dangers of illegal mining in the region and the urgent need for regulatory oversight. Rescue teams continue their efforts to locate the remaining trapped miners, while investigations into the tragedy are underway.