3 more bodies recovered from Assam’s flooded coal mine; rescue continues amid challenges

Nine workers became trapped on Monday after a sudden inflow of water inundated the mine.

The first body was retrieved on Wednesday from the 310-foot-deep quarry in Umrangsu.

Among the three bodies recovered today, one has been identified as 27-year-old Ligen Magar, a resident of Dima Hasao.

Efforts are ongoing to identify the other two bodies, officials said.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his condolences, stating on X, "Rescue efforts in Umrangsu continue with unwavering resolve. Our hearts go out to the grieving, as we hold onto hope and strength in this difficult time."

Specialised equipment from ONGC and Coal India is being used to dewater the quarry.

The mine, abandoned 12 years ago and previously under the Assam Mineral Development Corporation until three years ago, was not operational until recently.

“It was not an illegal mine but an abandoned one. The workers had entered the mine that day for the first time to extract coal,” the Chief Minister said on Friday.

He also confirmed the arrest of the workers' leader and ongoing police investigations.

The rescue operation involves multiple central and state agencies, as well as the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

However, rescuers face significant challenges, including murky and acidic water mixed with coal, which hampers visibility and the operation of remote-operated vehicles.

Image courtesy: x.com/01NDRF

Divers, including Navy clearance teams skilled in deep-water recovery, have had to navigate hazardous conditions to retrieve bodies.

The lack of a mine blueprint further complicates the search, as the main shaft connects to four narrow tunnels that branch out into a labyrinthine network.

NDTV reported that the working conditions inside the mine are extremely difficult as tunnels are often just three feet high.

The rescue operation is underway, and teams are working to locate the remaining workers.