Umrangso, January 11: After a challenging five-day rescue mission, teams from the Indian Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have retrieved another body from the illicit coal mine at Tin Kilo, Umrangso. The body, found at approximately 7:36 am, has been identified as Lijan Magar, a 26-year-old from Dima Hasao. This marks the second recovery from the nine miners trapped in the flooded rat-hole mine. Earlier, the body of Nepalese miner Ganga Bahadur Srestha was recovered on January 8.
The ongoing rescue operations, involving the Army, NDRF, and SDRF, are centered on using high-powered pumps from Coal India to dewater the mine. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma labeled the recovery as tragic and extended condolences to the victims’ families via social media, emphasizing hope and resilience during this difficult period.
The Chief Minister reported that continuous dewatering efforts successfully reduced the mine’s water level by seven meters by Friday evening. However, the water level remains at 26 meters across four interconnected wells, posing a significant challenge to the rescue efforts, which hinge on completely pumping out the water.
In response to the illegal mining activities, authorities have intensified their crackdown, arresting the mine manager Hanan Laskar and another suspect, Punisa Nunisa, under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. Investigations are ongoing.
The persistence of illegal coal mining, despite National Green Tribunal sanctions and Supreme Court rulings, has elicited sharp criticism. The Opposition has demanded a high-level inquiry, with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi calling for a CBI investigation during a protest in Digboi. Protesters accused the ruling BJP of colluding with mining syndicates, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability and adherence to legal mandates.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/umrangso-mine-crisis-second-body-retrieved-as-dewatering-efforts-intensify-1564503
Category : Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2025-01-11 10:55:00
