In Assam’s Dima Hasao district, five bodies of workers trapped in an illegal ‘rat-hole’ coal mine have been recovered, 44 days after flooding occurred on January 6. The incident trapped nine workers in a 310-foot deep mine. Earlier, four bodies were found; the state has now accounted for all trapped individuals. Families of the miners received compensation of Rs 10 lakh each, with Rs 6 lakh allotted to the families of those retrieved later. The mine, abandoned for 12 years, posed rescue challenges due to its complex tunnel system. A judicial inquiry into the incident has been initiated.
Guwahati:
Authorities have recovered five additional bodies of workers who had been trapped in an illegal ‘rat-hole’ coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, 44 days after the site was submerged, leaving nine individuals trapped.
On January 6, water surged into the 310-foot deep 3 Kilo Coal Quarry located in Umrangso, Dima Hasao district, prompting the deployment of several teams, including Navy divers, to rescue the stranded laborers. Earlier, the bodies of four workers had been retrieved, and the Assam government confirmed that all trapped individuals are now accounted for.
The remains of one worker were recovered on January 8, followed by the discovery of three more bodies three days later.
The state government has provided compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the four miners whose bodies were found previously, and Rs 6 lakh each to the families of the others. The Assam government had declared that each family would ultimately receive Rs 10 lakh.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma previously mentioned that the mine had been abandoned 12 years ago. A judicial inquiry into the incident has been initiated.
In addition to the mine’s depth, another factor complicating the rescue efforts was that the main shaft branched into four smaller tunnels, creating a complex network. Unfortunately, no blueprint was available for the rescue teams to use as a reference.