Assam Coal Mine Tragedy: 4 Bodies Recovered as Rescue Efforts Continue
The coal mine tragedy in Assam’s Dima Hasao district has left the nation in mourning as rescue operations enter their sixth day. The disaster struck on January 6 when a sudden gush of water flooded a coal quarry in Umrangso, trapping nine miners. So far, four bodies have been recovered, and efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining five miners.
Rescue teams, including the Army’s Special Forces and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have been working tirelessly despite challenging conditions. On January 11, one more body was retrieved, identified as Lijen Magar, a 27-year-old resident of Umrangso. The body was recovered at 7:36 a.m., marking the fourth retrieval since the tragedy began.
Earlier, two other bodies were retrieved by Indian Army divers and NDRF personnel. One of the deceased was identified as Ganga Bahadur Sreshto. NDRF team commander Roshan Kumar Singh confirmed that the water level has receded by six meters since the rescue efforts started, offering some hope for progress.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his condolences and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing rescue efforts. “Our hearts go out to the grieving, as we hold on to hope and strength in this difficult time,” he said in a post on X.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has called for an urgent Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the tragedy. He highlighted the issue of illegal mining in Assam and its devastating consequences, urging accountability for those responsible.
Police have arrested two individuals in connection with the incident. The leader of the trapped workers, Hanan Laskar, was arrested after reportedly fleeing the site. Earlier, the quarry’s lease-holder, Punish Nunisa, was taken into custody.
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The Assam coal mine tragedy highlights the ongoing issues of illegal mining, lack of safety measures, and environmental hazards. As rescue teams work against the clock, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the risks faced by miners and the need for stricter regulations to prevent such disasters in the future.
