Bodies of 4 workers recovered in Assam mine accident, five still trapped; rescue operations underway

Saturday marked six days since the coal mine accident in Umrangso, Assam. So far, the bodies of four workers have been recovered in the ongoing rescue operation in the district. The incident took place on Monday after a coal mine suddenly flooded, trapping a total of nine workers. The first body was recovered on Wednesday. Three more bodies were recovered on Saturday morning. One of them has been identified as 27-year-old Ligen Magar. Identification of the other two bodies is underway.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep condolences over the incident. He said in a post on X, "Rescue operations in Umrangso are continuing with unwavering resolve. We stand with the affected families in this difficult time." With the help of special machines brought by ONGC and Coal India, work is going on to pump out water from the mine, which is about 310 feet deep. Sarma had earlier claimed that the mine was closed 12 years ago and till three years ago it was under the Assam Mineral Development Corporation.

Sarma said, "It was not an illegal mine but it was closed, that day the workers entered the mine for the first time to extract coal." He said that the leader of the workers has been arrested and the police is investigating the matter. What is hindering Assam mine rescue operation Several teams from various central and state organisations and all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces - Army, Navy and Air Force - are involved in the operation to rescue the workers trapped in the flooded mine in Assam.

Rescue workers said that the water that entered the 3 Kilo Coal Mine in Umrangsu has become dirty and acidic, reducing visibility, with Navy divers searching for bodies in difficult conditions. Rescue workers said divers had to risk their lives to retrieve the body on Wednesday.

An official said the dirty water was making it difficult to use remote-controlled vehicles. The mine was under the Assam Mineral Development Corporation until three years ago and was now closed. Officials said the workers had gone to the mine to extract coal for the first time. According to reports, Jalaluddin, a worker working in the mine, said that the height of some tunnels was barely three feet. The worker said, "There is no space to stand and we have to bend down to extract coal. Even when we sit, the ceiling is only 4-5 inches above our heads."