Dima Hasao, Assam – A catastrophic incident occurred when rescue teams recovered the bodies of four miners from an inundated coal mine in Dima Hasao district in Assam. The accident took place on January 6, 2025, has trapped multiple workers underground, and with a severe rescue operation carried out by several agencies.
Nobody knows that this actually happened around 7 AM at Assam Coal Quarry in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso. There was a sudden inflow of water from a nearby abandoned mine that inundated the working site, trapping workers about 300 feet below the surface.
Early reports place the number of laborers at the mine around the time of flooding at between 10 to 15, but authorities have now identified nine trapped miners: Ganga Bahadur Shreth, Hussain Ali, Jakir Hussain, Sarpa Barman, Mustafa Seikh, Khushi Mohan Rai, Sanjit Sarkar, Lijan Magar, and Sarat Goyary.
Rescue Operations
The rescue operation is a coordinated effort of the Indian Army, Navy commandos, Assam Rifles, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local administrations.
The Navy divers were flown in from Visakhapatnam (in Andhra Pradesh) to help with difficult underwater searches. However, a considerable setback has been the stubborn water level rising up to 100 feet inside of the mine even after the use of large-capacity water pumps.
The first body was recovered on January 8, with the body count rising to four by January 11, as three more bodies were retrieved.
The names of the dead have not been released yet to allow their families to know first. Search teams are still searching for the remaining trapped miners, but the chances of survival decrease with time as conditions are still very challenging and submerging time is long.
Concerns Over Illegal Mining
Preliminary investigations suggest that the coal mine was operating illegally. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that a case had been registered under relevant chapters of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. An individual identified as Punish Nunisa has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Illegal mining practices, better known as “rat-hole” mining, have been an enduring menace in the Northeastern regions of India, leading to countless accidents and fatalities over the years.
Government Response
Chief Minister Sarma has been very active in monitoring the situation and liaising with the central authorities. He has contacted Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy, who directed Coal India Limited to render full support to the Assam government in the rescue operation.
Sarma acknowledged the immediate response and assured the government’s steadfast commitment to ensuring the safety of the miners.
Community Response
The incident has made the community gloomy, as the families of the trapped miners await confirmation. The tragedy highlights the dangers of illegal mining operations, usually conducted without proper safety measures and supervision.
The locals have called for strict enforcement of the mining laws to avert such incidents in the future.
Yet, the rescue operations are hampered by deep digging, complicated tunnel networks, and deep water levels. Attempts to remove the water have had restricted success, and the integrity of the mine also adds risks to rescuers.
No timeline for how long rescue efforts will last has been specified by the authorities, mainly because of matters of unpredictability related to underground conditions.
