Dewatering Operations Persist in Assam's Abandoned Coal Mine Amid Ongoing Rescue Efforts

Efforts to remove water from a coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district continued for the second day on Friday. Eight miners have been trapped since January 6. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the mine, declared abandoned 12 years ago, was not illegal as initially suspected. The mine's worker leader, who fled after the flooding, has been arrested.

The situation for the trapped miners remains dire as time is running out. The body of one miner from Nepal was recovered on Monday. Divers from the army and navy were unable to enter the 340-foot-deep quarry for two consecutive days due to ongoing dewatering efforts, according to a district official.

Rescue Operations and Equipment

Chief Minister Sarma clarified that the mine was abandoned and not illegal. Workers entered it for the first time since its abandonment to extract coal. The Assam Mineral Development Corporation managed it legally until three years ago. Dewatering operations began on Thursday, with hopes of resuming rescue efforts once water levels decrease.

A new machine from Nagpur is set to operate from Saturday morning, aiming to clear accumulated water by evening if it functions correctly. If not, the existing equipment will continue dewatering, potentially taking another 48 hours to complete the task.

Arrests and Investigations

The exact number of trapped workers remains uncertain. Families of nine workers have contacted authorities, and one body has been recovered so far. Initial reports suggested 11 workers were trapped. The chief minister urged against politicising the incident, calling it a human tragedy.

A senior official reported that Hanan Laskar, the miners' leader who fled after the incident on January 6, was arrested Thursday night following an extensive search in Umrangshu. Earlier, Punish Nunisa, the mine's lease-holder, was detained on Tuesday in connection with the case.

Flooding Incident and Response

The labourers became trapped inside the 3-Kilo Coal Quarry in Umrangso area, approximately 250 km from Guwahati, after a sudden influx of water flooded the site on Monday. A case was registered regarding this incident at what appeared to be an illegal mine, according to Chief Minister Sarma.

Dewatering efforts involve specialised machines from ONGC and Coal India. Once significant water is removed, navy and army divers will re-enter the mine for rescue operations. The navy, army, Assam Rifles, NDRF, SDRF, and civil administration are actively engaged in rescue efforts at the site.

Authorities remain committed to rescuing those trapped in the mine despite challenging conditions. The ongoing operations highlight their dedication to resolving this critical situation promptly and safely.