Rescue operations in Assam coal mine enter 7th day, toll remains at four

Dewatering process ongoing in flooded Assam coal mine, with four bodies recovered and final stage expected soon.

Rescue operations at a flooded coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district continued for the seventh day on Sunday (January 12, 2025) to locate trapped labourers inside the quarry, officials said.

Dewatering of the mine is being carried out with the process expected to reach the final stage soon, state Mines and Minerals Minister Kaushik Rai said.

Altogether nine workers were trapped inside the coal mine in Umrangsu area, around 250 km from Guwahati, after a sudden gush of water flooded the quarry on January 6. Of them, the bodies of four labourers have been recovered so far.

The first body was recovered on Wednesday while three others were fished out on Saturday.

NDRF team commander Roshan Kumar Singh said the water level inside the flooded mine is receding with the dewatering process going on.

“Today is the seventh day of rescue operations and four bodies have been recovered so far. The dewatering exercise is on and the water level is receding,” he said.

Rescue operations are being carried out by multiple agencies, including NDRF, SDRF, army and navy personnel, with drones deployed for mapping of the area.