Body Recovered from Flooded Coal Mine in Assam's Umrangso Region
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Guwahati, Jan 8 (NationPress) The lifeless body of a trapped labourer in a coal mine in the Umrangso area of Assam's Dima Hasao district has been retrieved by para divers, as confirmed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday.
In a post on X, CM Sarma stated, "21 para divers have successfully recovered a lifeless body from the bottom of the well. Our thoughts and prayers are with the mourning family."
The Chief Minister also mentioned that the rescue operation is currently progressing with Army and NDRF personnel entering the well.
"The rescue operation is in full effect, with Army and NDRF divers already having entered the well. Navy personnel are on the scene, making final arrangements to dive in after them. Additionally, SDRF de-watering pumps have been dispatched from Umrangshu to the site. The ONGC de-watering pump has also been loaded onto an MI-17 helicopter at Kumbhigram, pending weather clearance for deployment," CM Sarma elaborated.
Previously, Chief Minister Sarma indicated that illegal coal mining was conducted at the site where the labourers became trapped, and a case has been filed under the applicable laws.
Police have apprehended one individual in connection with the illegal coal mining activities.
In a statement on X, the Chief Minister mentioned, "The police have lodged an FIR under Umrangso PS Case No: 02/2025, citing Sections 3(5)/105 BNS, r/w Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, to investigate the incident. It seems to be an illegal mine at first glance. One Punish Nunisa has been arrested in relation to the case."
At least nine labourers have been identified as trapped in the coal mine in the Umrangso locality. Among these nine, one is from Nepal, one from West Bengal, and the others are from various regions of Assam. They have been identified as Ganga Bahadur Shreth, Hussain Ali, Jakir Hussain, Sarpa Barman, Mustafa Seikh, Khusi Mohan Rai, Sanjit Sarkar, Lijan Magar, and Sarat Goyary.
