Urgent: Navy Divers Halt Rescue Effort in Assam Mine Disaster; Intense Dewatering Operations Begin
In New Delhi, naval divers have been retracted from rescue operations in a coal mine located in Assam’s Dima Hasao district due to decreasing survival chances for five trapped miners. This marks the ninth consecutive day of dewatering the flooded quarry, officials reported on Tuesday. The operation utilizes specialized machinery from ONGC and Coal India to pump out water from the 340-foot-deep site, originally flooded to a depth of 100 feet. The water level has been steadily dropping, with a further decrease of three meters observed on Monday.
On January 6, nine workers became trapped following a sudden water influx, with four bodies recovered to date. Officials emphasize that prospects for the remaining miners are grim but affirm that rescue operations will continue. The efforts involve nine pumps, with an additional six on standby, deployed by a coalition of the Army, Assam Rifles, NDRF, SDRF, and local authorities. An underwater remotely-operated vehicle is being used intermittently to search for the trapped laborers.
The incident has highlighted concerns over mining safety, given that the site was reportedly abandoned 12 years ago but remained under the Assam Mineral Development Corporation’s jurisdiction until three years ago. Following the tragedy, the workers’ leader was arrested, and police investigations are ongoing. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, citing persistent illegal mining facilitated by inadequate law enforcement and local complicity in the northeastern region.
As the rescue mission continues amidst diminishing hopes, the tragic incident underscores the urgency to address regulatory oversight and the safety of mining operations in Assam.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/navy-divers-withdrawn-from-rescue-ops-in-assam-coal-mine-dewatering-exercise-underway/articleshow/117228795.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-01-14 13:43:00
