Army, Navy unite to rescue Assam coal miners on day 3 of ops
Rescue operations entered their third day on Wednesday in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, where nine miners remain trapped in a flooded coal mine. Efforts by the Indian Army, Navy, and relief teams are underway amid suspicions that the mine was operating illegally.
News Arena Network - Guwahati - UPDATED: January 8, 2025, 09:05 AM - 2 min read
Navy divers and rescue personnel try to enter the flooded Assam coal mine, where nine workers are trapped. Challenging terrain and water levels continue to hamper the ongoing rescue operations.
Rescue operations entered their third day on Wednesday in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, where nine miners remain trapped 300 feet underground in a flooded coal mine.
Despite the involvement of Indian Army and Navy personnel, efforts to locate the workers have yet to succeed.
The incident occurred in Umrangso, a remote area of Assam, when approximately 40 workers entered the illegal mine on Monday morning.
They are believed to have accidentally struck a water source, flooding the pit. While many escaped, between nine and fifteen miners are unaccounted for.
Challenges
The mine features a 300-foot-deep central shaft, with narrow rat-hole tunnels branching out. Rescue teams have struggled to drain the floodwaters, with 100 feet of water still present despite continuous pumping.
Deputy Commissioner Simanta Kumar Das said, “Divers from the Navy have conducted an underwater survey of the mine. We have arranged lighting to enable operations at night, but the Navy will decide the next steps.”
The flooding’s cause remains unclear, but the site is near the Umrangso artificial lake, formed by damming the Kupili River.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that the mine was likely operating illegally. “Prima facie, it appears to be an illegal mine,” he said.
The mine operator, Punish Nunisa, has been arrested, and a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered.
Special DGP Harmeet Singh stated, “An investigation is underway, but our focus remains on rescuing the workers.”
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Army engineers are coordinating closely.
A Navy team equipped with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) has joined the effort.
Divers use a pulley to enter a coal mine to rescue trapped miners in Umrangso, a remote area in the northeastern state of Assam
“The Navy divers conducted an underwater reconnaissance of the mine on Tuesday evening. All efforts are underway to rescue the trapped workers,” said a defence spokesperson.
Chief Minister Sarma has sought assistance from Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy, who directed Coal India to extend support.
The incident has left the mining community in shock.
Families of the trapped miners anxiously await updates as rescue teams battle challenging terrain and rising water levels.
The remote location of the mine, six hours from the district headquarters in Haflong, has compounded difficulties, delaying the progress of rescue operations.
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