4 Bodies Recovered from Flooded Assam Coal Mine, Rescue Efforts Continue

Rescue teams recovered four bodies from a flooded coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district. At least nine workers were feared trapped after illegal operations began in the abandoned mine. Authorities continue rescue efforts, using advanced dewatering equipment, while investigations and arrests related to the incident are underway.

Four bodies have been recovered from a flooded coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district, where at least nine workers were feared trapped since Monday. The incident occurred at the Assam Coal Quarry in Umrangso, a site previously abandoned but recently reopened illegally.

Rescue operations, led by the Indian Army and supported by divers, continue amid challenging conditions. On Saturday morning, the body of 27-year-old Lijan Magar, a local resident, was recovered. Two more bodies were found later in the day, though their identities remain unconfirmed. Earlier, the body of Ganga Bahadur Srestho, a Nepalese national, was retrieved from under a submerged trolley in the nearly 300-foot-deep mine.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed condolences on social media, affirming the government's commitment to ongoing rescue efforts.

Authorities are using traditional and high-capacity pumps to dewater the mine, lowering the water level by 23 feet as of Friday. A heavy-duty pump from Coal India Limited is being installed to expedite the process.

Speculation persists about the number of trapped workers, with some suggesting it could exceed the nine initially reported. Chief Minister Sarma clarified that the mine, although abandoned 12 years ago, was legally operated by the Assam Mines and Minerals Department before its closure. However, its recent reopening and operations were illegal.

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Police have arrested two individuals, including the leaseholder and the mine workers' head, in connection with the incident. Investigations are ongoing as rescue teams work tirelessly to locate and recover the remaining trapped workers.