Rescue teams are working tirelessly to save nine miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in the remote Dima Hasao district of India’s northeastern Assam state. The miners have been trapped since Monday, and fears are growing as three bodies have been spotted by rescue teams but have not yet been recovered, according to local authorities.
The Indian Army has deployed divers, helicopters, and engineers in a desperate bid to reach the men. “The mine got flooded yesterday—the source was internal. They probably hit some water channel, and water came out and flooded it,” said Mayank Kumar, the district police chief of Dima Hasao. “Rescue teams from the army and national and state disaster relief forces are working to reach the trapped miners.”
Photographs shared by the army on social media show rescue workers equipped with ropes, cranes, and other equipment standing at the edge of the large, vertical mine shaft. The challenging terrain and remote location are adding to the difficulties faced by the rescuers.
Coal mine accidents are not uncommon in the northeastern part of India. In 2019, at least 15 miners were buried while working in an illegal mine in the neighboring state of Meghalaya after it was flooded by water from a nearby river. The incident highlighted the dangers of unregulated mining activities in the region.
The thoughts and prayers of the nation are with the trapped miners and their families as rescue efforts continue. Authorities are urging mining companies to strengthen safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Reference(s):
Three feared dead as India deploys divers to rescue trapped miners
cgtn.com
