A Look At Coal Mine Accidents In The Past As Rescuers Race Against Time To Extract 8 Workers From Assam Quarry

Rescuers race against time to find eight coal miners trapped in Assam after the coal mine they were working in was inundated with sudden gush of water.

Rescuers in Assam are racing against time to locate and rescue eight workers who were trapped in a coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district. Initially, nine workers were stuck after a sudden gush of water inundated the mine. 

On Wednesday, the rescue teams had recovered the body of one of the workers while looking on for the others. Several central and state agencies along with all three armed forces, the Army, Navy, and Air Force are involved in the search and rescue operations at the rat-hole coal mine 3 Kilo, Umrangso. 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the coal mine was "illegal" and one person was arrested in connection with the mishap. 

In 2014, the National Green Tribunal banned this dangerous method of extracting coal, however, the practice still continues causing casualties to the workers.

Here are some recent coal mine accidents in the country that claimed the lives of the miners. 

1. Birbhum Coal Mine Explosion: On October 7, 2024, at least seven miners died in an explosion in a coal mine in West Bengal's Birbhum district. The blast took place after explosives, kept on a truck, went off at the Gangaramchak and Gangaramchak-Bhadulia coal block at Khayrasole in Birbhum. According to locals, the body parts of the victims and metal scraps of the vehicle landed at least 500 – 700 metres away.


2. Nagaland Coal Mine Fire: Six workers were charred to death after a fire broke out in a coal mine in Nagaland on January 25, 2024. While the cause of the fire was not immediately known, officials suspected the generator exploded due to leakage while some locals claimed gas released from the mine caused the blaze. 


3. Raniganj Coal Mine Collapse: At least three workers were killed after a coal mine collapsed during illegal extraction in West Bengal's Paschim Bardhaman district in October 2023. The mine caved in after 25-30 workers illegally entered the quarry, according to officials. While some managed to escape, others got stuck inside. The deceased were identified as Dinesh Ruidas (38), Sumir Bauri (17) and Surajit Sen (21). 


4. Meghalaya Coal Mine Accident: On January 21, 2021, six labourers died after they fell into a pit inside an abandoned coal mine in Meghalaya. The accident took place in the state's East Jaintia Hills district after the workers fell into the 150-deep pit while digging a tunnel. 


5. Jharkhand Coal Mine Collapse: On December 30, 2016, eleven workers died in an open-cast coal mine at Paharia Bhodaye in Jharkhand’s Godda district collapsed.