The rescue operation in Assam’s Dima Hasao district has taken a tragic turn as two more bodies of miners trapped in the flooded 'rat hole' coal mine in Umrangso were recovered on Saturday. This brings the total fatalities to three, while six miners remain unaccounted for. The operation, now in its sixth day, highlights the perilous conditions and challenges rescuers face in such incidents.
The workers were trapped on January 6 when a sudden and unexpected surge of water inundated the abandoned coal mine near the Assam-Meghalaya border. The body of Lijen Magar, a 27-year-old resident of Kalamata village, was pulled out on Saturday morning, followed by another body later in the day, whose identity is yet to be confirmed. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the developments and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. The first body, identified as Ganga Bahadur Srestho from Nepal, was recovered on Wednesday.
Rescue operations have been fraught with difficulties due to the mine's flooded state, which spans a depth of approximately 340 feet. Efforts to drain the water using high-capacity pumps and specialized equipment provided by ONGC and Coal India have been ongoing since Thursday, but progress has been slow. Divers from the Army and Navy remain on standby but have not been able to access the deeper, submerged sections of the mine due to difficulties in mapping the flooded interiors.
Additional heavy machinery, brought in from Nagpur, began operations on Saturday evening, sparking hope for accelerated progress. Oxygen supplies and artificial lighting have been installed to assist rescuers, but the task of pumping out the water remains critical to advancing the search for the six missing miners. Chief Minister Sarma emphasized the complexity of the operation, noting that success hinges on reducing water levels significantly.
The mine, which was abandoned 12 years ago and was under the jurisdiction of the Assam Mineral Development Corporation until three years ago, has come under scrutiny for alleged illegal operations. Authorities have made arrests in connection with the incident. Hanan Laskar, a miner leader who fled the scene immediately after the flooding, was apprehended on Thursday night in Umrangso. Punish Nunisa, the mine’s leaseholder, had been detained earlier in the week. Both individuals are being interrogated as part of the investigation into the incident.
The tragedy has reignited debates around the issue of illegal mining in the region. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticized the state government for failing to crack down on illicit mining practices, which he attributes to weak law enforcement and local complicity. Gogoi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the disaster. He called for stricter regulations and enforcement to prevent such avoidable tragedies. “The families of the victims deserve justice, and we must ensure that such incidents do not happen again,” Gogoi stated.
Meanwhile, the families of the trapped workers have gathered near the site, anxiously awaiting updates as the rescue teams work tirelessly. Many have expressed frustration over the delays and questioned the safety measures in place at such mining sites. Social activists and political leaders alike have called for comprehensive reforms in mining practices to address safety and environmental concerns.
The incident has cast a spotlight on the dangers of unregulated mining activities, particularly in regions like Assam and Meghalaya, where illegal coal extraction has been a longstanding issue. Environmentalists have also raised concerns about the ecological damage caused by such activities, urging the government to adopt sustainable and transparent mining practices.
As the clock ticks for the six remaining workers, the government and rescue teams face mounting pressure to deliver results. With each passing day, the operation becomes a race against time to recover the missing miners and bring closure to their families. At the same time, the tragedy underscores the urgent need for a thorough overhaul of mining regulations and enforcement mechanisms to ensure the safety and well-being of workers in the future.
