Guwahati, January – Rescue teams recovered the bodies of three more workers on Saturday from a flooded coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, bringing the total death toll to four. The workers had been trapped in the mine since Monday after a sudden gush of water flooded the quarry.
The tragic incident occurred at a coal mine located in the Tinkilo area under Umrangsho, about 340 feet deep. At least nine workers were trapped when the mine became submerged. On Tuesday, the first body was recovered, and on Saturday, three more bodies were retrieved, sparking further efforts to identify the deceased.
Two of the four recovered bodies have been identified: Ganga Bahadur Sreshto from Nepal and Lijen Magar from Dima Hasao. The identities of the remaining two victims have yet to be confirmed, according to officials involved in the ongoing operation.
The rescue efforts have seen the collaboration of multiple agencies, including the Army, Assam Rifles, State Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Navy, and Coal India Limited. The teams have been tirelessly working to dewater the flooded mine, deploying large pumps to reduce the water level inside the quarry.
“We have been using high-powered pumps to dewater the mine, and the water level is slowly receding. We were able to recover three more bodies today,” an NDRF official said. The official also confirmed that a more powerful pump is expected to be installed by Saturday evening to assist in further dewatering efforts.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed the situation, clarifying that the mine in question was not illegal but had been abandoned by the Assam Mineral Development Corporation Limited (AMDC) 12 years ago. “It seems the laborers entered the mine illegally on Monday, and the accident occurred on the very first day,” the Chief Minister stated, adding that a case has been registered in connection with the incident.
On Saturday morning, Chief Minister Sarma shared an update on social media, stating, “Rescue efforts in Umrangsu continue with unwavering resolve. Tragically, another body was recovered this morning, with the identity yet to be confirmed. Our hearts go out to the grieving, as we hold on to hope and strength in this difficult time.”
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the incident. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gogoi expressed concern over the “unchecked illegal mining” in Assam, blaming “weak law enforcement and local complicity” for such tragedies.
As rescue operations continue, the focus remains on retrieving the remaining trapped workers, while authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.