A tragic development unfolded in the Dima Hasao district as a body was recovered from the flooded coal mine in Umrangso, marking a somber turn in the ongoing rescue operation. The body was retrieved by Army divers from the 21 Para Special Forces after nearly 48 hours of relentless search efforts for the nine miners trapped underground since January 6. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the grim news via social media, offering his condolences to the family of the deceased. “21 Para divers have just recovered a lifeless body from the bottom of the well. Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving family,” Sarma shared on X. The search for the remaining miners continues, with multiple agencies working tirelessly at the site. In addition to the Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) divers, Navy personnel have joined the rescue teams.
A massive dewatering operation is underway, with State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) pumps being deployed from Umrangshu, and specialized equipment from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is on standby, awaiting aerial transport once weather conditions permit. State Mines Minister Kaushik Rai, overseeing the rescue efforts, explained the difficulty of the operation. “Engineers are dealing with challenging conditions after workers struck an underground water source while mining. This sudden flood trapped the miners inside the narrow ‘rat hole’ mine shaft,” he stated.
The incident has also raised serious concerns about illegal mining activities in the region. Authorities have arrested one suspect, Punish Nunisa, and an investigation into violations of mining regulations is underway, with further arrests expected. The ongoing rescue operation has garnered support from Union Coal Minister Kishan Reddy, who has directed Coal India Limited to allocate additional resources. Special teams from the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, Navy, and Air Force have set up lighting systems to ensure continuous rescue efforts.
