On the third day of rescue operations, the body of one of the nine workers trapped inside a coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district was recovered by army divers on Wednesday, officials confirmed.
The chances of the survival of the remaining eight workers appear slim. Despite this, a collaborative effort involving navy, army, NDRF, and SDRF personnel has intensified to rescue the trapped miners.
The labourers were trapped on Monday at the Assam Coal Quarry in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso after a sudden influx of water flooded the site. Rescue teams have been working around the clock, taking turns to enter the mine.
Divers successfully located the body of the trapped worker early Wednesday morning. Its identity has yet to be ascertained. A diver reported that the body was spotted about 85 feet below the surface with limited visibility due to water surrounding the site.
“21 Para divers have just recovered a lifeless body from the bottom of the well. Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving family,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X.
“Meanwhile, SDRF dewatering pumps have departed from Umrangshu for the location. Additionally, the ONGC dewatering pump has been loaded onto an MI-17 helicopter at Kumbhigram, awaiting weather clearance for deployment,” Sarma said in another post.
Sarma emphasised that rescue operations were in full swing, with army and NDRF divers already having entered the well. Navy personnel are now preparing for their turn to dive.
Allegations of illegal operation
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Sarma mentioned that the mine "appears to be illegal" and confirmed that one person had been arrested in connection with the incident.
He further stated that Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy had assured him that a team from Coal India would join the rescue efforts from Wednesday.
Eyewitness accounts and initial assessments suggest the flooding occurred suddenly, likely due to the opening of an underground water channel. Quarry employees mentioned there were around 15 workers inside the mine, though authorities have not confirmed the exact number.
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