Rescue operations at the flooded coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district continued for the seventh consecutive day on Sunday to locate trapped labourers inside the quarry, officials said.
The dewatering process is nearing its final stage, state Mines and Minerals Minister Kaushik Rai informed.
A total of nine workers were trapped in the coal mine in Umrangsu area, approximately 250 km from Guwahati, after a sudden influx of water on January 6. So far, the bodies of four labourers have been recovered.
The first body was recovered on Wednesday, followed by three others on Saturday.
NDRF team commander Roshan Kumar Singh stated that the water level inside the flooded mine is steadily receding with the ongoing dewatering process.
“Today is the seventh day of rescue operations and four bodies have been recovered so far. The dewatering exercise is progressing and the water level is decreasing,” Singh said.
Multiple agencies are engaged in the operations, including NDRF, SDRF, army, and navy personnel, with drones deployed for mapping the area.
Minister Rai supervised the operations on Saturday, noting that the final stage of dewatering is anticipated within the next 36 hours.
“Dewatering is ongoing. A substantial amount of water needs to be pumped out as the shaft is interlinked with different wells. Within the next 36 hours, we
expect to reach the final stage,” he stated.
Twelve pumps have been dedicated to the dewatering process, focusing on clearing water from the main shafts.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted that the mine was abandoned 12 years ago and was previously managed by the Assam Mineral Development Corporation until three years ago.
“It was not an illegal mine but an abandoned one. The workers had entered the mine that day for the first time to extract coal,” Sarma said.
The leader of the workers has been arrested, and police are conducting a thorough investigation into the case.
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