In brief
Authorities reported that three of the nine trapped miners are feared dead, highlighting the extreme risks associated with illegal mining in the region.
The race against time is on to rescue miners trapped inside a flooded coal mine in Assam, India, as reports indicate that three out of the nine men inside are feared dead. The emergency unfolded early Monday when rising water levels inundated the mine, a narrow hole traditionally used for manual coal extraction. Despite a government ban on such mining operations since 2014, illegal mines persist in Assam and across India’s northeastern states. Authorities have mobilized divers, helicopters, and engineers to expedite rescue operations, with both state and national disaster response teams involved in the mission. Assam's Director General of Police GP Singh announced on Monday evening that they were working to confirm the actual number of miners trapped inside, with reports suggesting that more than a dozen had managed to escape, while the numbers of those trapped may be confined to single digits.The disaster site is located in the remote hilly region of Dima Hasao district, complicating rescue efforts. Senior police officer Mayank Kumar Jha emphasized the operational challenges due to the "remote" and "difficult to reach" nature of the area. Mine disasters are tragically frequent in India’s northeastern region; an incident in December 2018 saw at least 15 miners trapped in a neighboring state, Meghalaya, after a nearby river flooded an illegal mine, with rescue efforts extending over several months and only two bodies ultimately recovered. Additionally, in January 2024, a fire in a rat-hole coal mine in Nagaland state resulted in the loss of six workers' lives, further underscoring the perils faced by miners in this sector. For more updates, follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.
