Nine trapped in flooded Assam coal mine; navy divers called for rescue operations

ASSAM government on Tuesday sought the help of navy to assist local authorities in rescuing the nine labourers trapped inside a flooded coal mine in Dima Hasao district, where the water level has risen to nearly 100 feet.

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the navy divers are expected to arrive soon.

"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," the chief minister posted on 'X'.

Rescue operations have been continuing but no worker has been brought out of the quarry so far, a district official said.

Army personnel have been engaged to rescue the labourers and a relief task force comprising specialists such as divers and sappers, equipped with essential tools, reached the site in Umrangso, a defence spokesperson said.

"Engineers task force with equipment, divers and medical teams from the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles have joined the rescue efforts," he said.

All efforts are underway in close coordination with the civil administration to rescue the trapped people, another official said.

NDRF and SDRF personnel are also at the site. Two water pumping machines were also put into use to flush out the water, another official said.

Since Monday, nine labourers have been trapped inside the mine at the Assam Coal Quarry, situated in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso, after a sudden gush of water flooded the site.

According to employees of the quarry, there were around 15 workers inside the mine, though the authorities did not confirm the number.

The names of the trapped labourers are Ganga Bahadur Shreth, Hussain Ali, Jakir Hussain, Sarpa Barman, Mustafa Seikh, Khushi Mohan Rai, Sanjit Sarkar, Lijan Magar and Sarat Goyary.

Eyewitness accounts and initial assessments suggest that the flooding occurred unexpectedly, leaving the workers unable to escape from the mine.

Rescue operations were launched immediately with teams consisting of local authorities, emergency responders and mining experts working to locate and rescue the trapped workers, the officials said. (PTI)