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Rescue Efforts Continue After Assam Coal Mine Flood Kills Four, Five Still Missing

Illegal mining operation in Dima Hasao district faces scrutiny as rescue teams work to locate trapped workers in hazardous conditions.

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Rescue workers and others stand near a coal mine where at least nine miners became trapped on Monday, in Umrangso area of Dimapur Hasao district in northeastern state of Assam. (AP PHOTO)
Rescue personnel carry the body of a worker recovered from an Assam mine on Saturday. (PTI)
Divers continue searching for trapped miners in Umrangso (AFP)

Overview

  • Four bodies have been recovered from the flooded rat-hole coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district, with five miners still unaccounted for.
  • The mine, abandoned 12 years ago, was illegally reopened, leading to the January 6 flooding incident that trapped nine workers.
  • Rescue operations involve multiple agencies, including the Indian Army, Navy, and National Disaster Response Force, but efforts are hampered by murky water and complex tunnel networks.
  • Authorities have arrested two individuals, including the mine operator and a supervisor, as investigations into the illegal mining activity continue.
  • Specialized pumps from Coal India have been deployed to drain the mine, with water levels steadily decreasing, but challenges remain in locating the missing miners.