Lifeless Body Recovered, Army, Navy, and SDRF in Rescue Operation as Many Trapped inside an Illegal Coal Mine in Assam
Workers were trapped in an Illegal coal mine, The Navy and Army trying to rescue workers, and water levels reached 100 feet. Himanta Biswa Sarma urged the director of Coal India to send a team to assist rescue operations.
Assam Chief Minister on Tuesday flagged a coal mine, operating illegally near Dima Hasao district where 9 workers are trapped. One individual was arrested in connection with the illegal mining. A case has also been registered for the incident. Authorities are constantly forcing rescue and search operations in the quarry.
''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," read Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The Government has also urged the Indian Navy Divers to assist in the rescue operations because of waterlogging inside the quarry which has gone above 100 feet. There are several workers trapped inside the quarry. While the authorities feared deaths inside, the first body was recovered in the early hours of Wednesday.
In yet another X post, The CM shared ''Navy deep divers have been requisitioned to assist in the rescue operation. The water level inside the mine has risen to nearly 100 feet, according to the assessment by the stationed team. The divers are flying in from Visakhapatnam and are expected to arrive soon,"
Army personnel were also engaged to ensure a quick and systematic extraction of all the 9 trapped laborers. Sappers have been brought that can further assist in rescue operations. The defense spokesperson claimed that an “Engineers task force with equipment, divers, and medical teams from the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles have joined the rescue efforts,"
The 21 para divers have reached the spot and recovered a body from the bottom of the quarry. The Navy, Army, and SDRF are taking care of the rescue operation and trying to extract the remaining people. Additional measures are also being taken to ensure the safety of the other trapped workers.
De-watering pump has departed from Umrangshu’s SDF unit along with ONGC’s De-watering pump which is being loaded in Kumbhigram and is awaiting weather clearance. CM has also urged the director of Coal India to join the rescue team and assist them in rescuing the trapped workers.
The quarry is set at a height of 340 feet and is flooded with water. Names of the trapped staff come ahead and they have been identified as Hussain Ali, Jakir Hussain, Sanjit Sarkar, Sarat Goyari, and Mustafa Sheikh. The Navy and SDRF are working tirelessly around the clock to ensure every individual is being rescued on time. The death of one worker has, however, raised panic among the families and relatives.