Emergency responders are urgently working to rescue miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in Assam, India, amidst rising concerns for their safety.
Reports indicate that three of the nine trapped miners are feared dead, as rescue teams struggle to access the bodies spotted within the mine.
The miners were trapped early Monday when water inundated the rat-hole mine—an illegal and dangerous method of coal extraction characterized by narrow, hand-dug tunnels.
Despite a nationwide ban on such mining practices instituted in 2014, illegal operations continue to proliferate in Assam and other northeastern states.
In a coordinated effort, divers, helicopters, and engineers have been deployed as part of the rescue operation, supported by state and national disaster response teams.
Assam’s Director General of Police, GP Singh, reported that authorities are currently determining the precise number of individuals trapped inside the mine.
While initial reports suggested that more than a dozen miners successfully escaped the flood, the true extent of the crisis remains uncertain.
The mine, located in the Dima Hasao district, presents significant accessibility challenges due to its remote and rugged terrain.
Local authorities highlight that mine-related incidents are all too common in northeastern India.
A tragic incident in December 2018 saw 15 miners trapped in a similar illegal operation in Meghalaya, with rescue efforts continuing for several months.
In January 2024, a fire in a rat-hole mine in Nagaland led to the deaths of six workers, emphasizing the ongoing dangers of illegal mining in the region.
