Assam Cole Mine Digester! Tension and despair grip Assam as rescue efforts continue for over 20 workers trapped since Monday in an illegal coal mine in Umrangso. The grim reality of the situation surfaced with the recovery of a worker’s body from a depth of 85 feet. Rescue teams, including 21 PARA divers, are battling against rising water levels, which have complicated the mission.
Rescue teams at the flooded Umrangso coal mine have identified the body recovered earlier as Sri Ganga Bahadur Srestho, a worker from Udayapur district, Nepal.
The trapped workers were stranded at an estimated depth of 300 feet when water unexpectedly flooded the mine. Initially, nine workers were reported trapped, but as the situation developed, more workers were revealed to be at risk.
The mine owner, Punish Nunisa, has been arrested under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. The illegal mine, identified as a “rat hole” operation, employed a dangerous method of manually digging narrow tunnels into deep pits. This method not only endangers miners but also threatens the environment through toxic discharges.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been actively overseeing the rescue operations. The Chief Minister has sought additional support from the Union Coal Minister, underlining the gravity of the situation.
The Assam State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and specialized military teams are working tirelessly. Despite these efforts, progress has been slow due to the treacherous conditions.
The Umrangso coal mine incident echoes a similar tragedy in Meghalaya in 2018, where multiple miners were trapped due to flooding in another illegal mine. Such incidents spotlight the persistent dangers posed by illegal mining operations in the region.
Families of the trapped workers, alongside the broader community, are anxiously awaiting updates. The tragic recovery of one body has heightened fears about the fate of the others still trapped.