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Bodies of 3 More Workers Retrieved From Mine, Rescue 5
Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Challenges at Umrangsu Mine
Guwahati: The tragic mining accident in Assam’s Dima Hasao district has claimed more lives as the bodies of three additional workers trapped inside a flooded coal mine were recovered today. This brings the total number of bodies retrieved so far to four, with nine workers having been trapped inside the mine after a sudden gush of water flooded the quarry on Monday.
The first body was recovered on Wednesday, and today’s retrievals included one identified as 27-year-old Ligen Magar from Dima Hasao. The identities of the other two workers are still being determined, officials reported.
Ongoing Rescue Operations and Obstacles
Rescue efforts in the Umrangsu area are continuing with determination, despite significant challenges. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed solidarity with the victims’ families in a post on social media, stating, “Our hearts go out to the grieving, as we hold onto hope and strength in this difficult time.” Specialized dewatering machines brought in by ONGC and Coal India are being used to clear the flooded 310-foot deep mine.
The mine, which had been abandoned for over a decade, had been under the Assam Mineral Development Corporation (AMDC) until three years ago. Sarma clarified that the mine was not illegal, but abandoned, and the workers had entered for the first time to extract coal on the day of the accident.
Difficulties in the Rescue Operation
The rescue operation is facing several obstacles. The water that flooded the mine has now turned acidic and murky due to its mix with coal, making visibility and maneuvering in the mine extremely difficult. This has complicated efforts even for the Navy’s clearance divers, who are trained in deep-depth diving and recovery operations.
Moreover, the mine’s 310-foot main shaft leads into a network of four small tunnels, which complicates the rescue as there is no available blueprint to guide rescuers through the maze-like structure. With some tunnels being as narrow as three feet, rescuers are working under dangerous conditions to locate and retrieve the trapped workers.
Multiple teams from central and state organizations, along with personnel from all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces, are involved in the high-risk operation to rescue the remaining workers. Despite the significant challenges, authorities continue to work around the clock in hopes of locating the remaining five trapped laborers.