Assam Coal Mine Disaster: At least three workers have been killed in the flooded Assam coal mine in the Dima Hasao district. The bodies of the three workers are visible from the top, but they are yet to be recovered.
Efforts are on to rescue the other workers trapped in the coal mine. Teams from the Army, the NDRF, and the SDRF have launched a collaborative effort to rescue the workers. Navy divers are also on standby to help. So far, 17 miners have been rescued but no communication with the people trapped in the rat-hole mine is possible.
Dima Hasao Coal Mine Incident Update
The Dima Hasao coal mine disaster occurred in the Umrangso coal mine. The deceased were residents of Darrang. A senior Army officer was quoted by Doordarshan News as saying, “Engineers Task Force with equipment, divers and medical teams from the Indian Army and Assam Rifles have joined rescue efforts in Umrangso, Assam. All efforts are underway in close coordination with the civil administration.”
The exact number of workers trapped in the mine is not known. From the top of the rat-hole mine, the rescuers can see floating footwear and helmets, etc.
Teams from 32 Assam Rifles and the Engineer Task Force & Para divers are also at the spot. The disaster occurred on Monday when the mine suddenly became flooded. The rescuers are now racing against time to find survivors.
(With inputs from by Mohsin.)