Rescue operations at a flooded rat-hole coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district face significant challenges due to high water levels, believed to be connected to the nearby Kopili River. Efforts to drain the mine have been ongoing for ten days, yet only see minor success, with water levels dropping less than a foot every 36-48 hours, according to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The persistent flooding hampers the search for nine trapped workers since January 6, with four bodies recovered so far.
The Geological Survey of India has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the flooding, amid speculation that the mine may be linked to the river. The chief minister expressed concerns over the slow progress of the dewatering process and emphasized the need for the Geological Survey’s findings, stating, “We suspect that the coal mine is somehow connected to the Kopili River.”
The rescue operations involve various agencies, including the Indian Army, Indian Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Coal India Limited. Assam Minister Kaushik Rai confirmed that these teams are actively engaged in both dewatering the site and the search for the missing workers.
To date, four bodies have been recovered from the mine: Ganga Bahadur Shreth of Nepal on January 8, followed by Lijen Magar, Khusi Mohan Rai, and Sarat Goyary on January 11, each from different parts of Assam. The operation continues with the aim of locating the remaining five miners.
The situation underscores the difficulty of rescue efforts under such challenging conditions, as authorities race against time to find the missing individuals and uncover the cause of the flooding. The community and families of the miners await further developments with anticipation and concern.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/umrangso-mine-case-rescue-efforts-to-locate-five-workers-obstructed-by-water-levels-linked-to-kopili-river-1154808-2025-01-15?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-01-15 09:24:00
