Body of One Worker Recovered From Assam's Inundated Coal Mine, Search On To Find 8 Others

One body was recovered from an inundated coal mine in Assam, where nine workers were trapped.

Search and rescue operations underway at Assam coal mine where nine workers were trapped after a gush of water inundated the site.

Source : PTI

The body of one of the nine workers who were trapped in an inundated coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao was recovered by search and rescue teams on Wednesday morning. 

The labourers were trapped inside the mine situated in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso, on Monday after a sudden gush of water flooded the site. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the mine "appears to be illegal" and one person has been arrested in connection with the incident. 

Teams of navy, army, National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force are undertaking search and rescue operations. 

#WATCH | UPDATE | Dima Hasao, Assam: One body recovered from the coal mine at 3 Kilo, Umrangso area where 9 people were trapped on January 6. Search and rescue operation is still underway. pic.twitter.com/q4KvJQjQvJ

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2025

Earlier, Dima Hasao Superintendent of Police, Mayank Kumar Jha dismissed media reports claiming three of the trapped workers were “feared dead”, reported PTI. 

A 35-member team of the NDRF led by Commandant HPS Kandari, is conducting rescue operations at the site, the CM said. 

The Indian Navy has also mobilised a specialised team comprising one officer and eleven sailors, including highly trained Clearance Divers skilled in deep-depth diving and recovery operations, a press release stated. 

Source: Indian Navy

Source: Indian Navy

The divers arrived at the site from Visakhapatnam and conducted a recce, before entering the quarry.

The team is equipped with deep diving gear and underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for search and rescue, the Navy said. 

"The effort is being conducted in close coordination with the Indian Army, NDRF & the local civil administration to ensure an immediate and effective response," it added. 

Assam CM said he spoke to Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy who has assured that a team from Coal India would join the rescue operations from Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Sarma said a person had been arrested following the mishap at the coal mine which "appears to be illegal".

He also said a case was registered in connection with the incident.

''The police have registered an FIR under Umrangso PS Case No: 02/2025, citing Sections 3(5)/105 BNS, r/w Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, to investigate the incident. Prima facie, it appears to be an illegal mine. One Punish Nunisa has been arrested in connection with the case," said the chief minister in a post on X.