Assam illegal mining claims lives: One body found, several workers still missing | WATCH

Assam: The worst possible turn occurred when rescuers recovered a body early Wednesday from the flooded coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district. This has happened nearly 48 hours after at least nine workers were reportedly trapped inside following sudden flooding. Confirming recovery, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma put it on X: "21 Para divers have just recovered a lifeless body from the bottom of the well. A praying thought for all the grieving souls.

Assam coal mine tragedy: 3 bodies seen, Navy deep divers flying from Visakhapatnam. The water level inside the mine has risen to about 100 feet. Altogether 9 are trapped – 1 from Nepal, 1 from Bengal and 7 from Assam @NewIndianXpress @santwana99 pic.twitter.com/TllvTVx64g

— Prasanta Mazumdar (@prasmaz_tnie) January 7, 2025

Rescue operations began here on Tuesday under coordinated efforts led by the Armed Force's Army and Navy, apart from the personnel of National Disaster Response Force or NDRF and State Disaster Response Force SDRF here. The officials said that now everything is in complete swing, especially the divers diving into the underground flooded mine one after another as the Navy members were also being prepared to send them for dive again. There were de-watering pumps deployed for this operation from the State Disaster Response Force and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). Continuous rainfall in the area posed a great challenge though.

Confusion over the number of trapped workers:

There was uncertainty over the number of workers trapped underground, with reports ranging from nine to 15 people being inside the mine. Rescue teams found helmets and slippers floating in the water on Tuesday, fueling speculation about fatalities. Earlier reports suggesting the recovery of three bodies were later dismissed by officials.

Illegal mining under scrutiny

Chief Minister Sarma said the coal mine seemed to be illegal. One person was arrested, and a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was filed against him for running the mine and employing workers in hazardous conditions. As rescue operations are ongoing, tragedy strikes the surface, highlighting dangers of unregulated mining and its human cost. Authorities are resolved to recover more trapped people and bring the guilty to book for the disaster.