Guwahati:
Assam Mine Accident: Bodies of three workers trapped inside a coal mine in Dima Hasao district of Assam have been recovered today. After this, the number of workers who died in the accident has increased to four. These people were among the nine workers who were trapped inside the mine after it suddenly filled with water on Monday. Earlier on Wednesday, the body of a laborer was taken out from the mine of Umrangsu.
One of the three workers whose bodies were taken out of the mine was identified as 27-year-old Ligen Magar, a resident of Dima Hasao. An official said that efforts are being made to identify two other bodies.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a post on Twitter that rescue efforts in Umrangsu are continuing with unwavering resolve. He also expressed grief over this accident and said that in difficult times we stand on strength and hope.
The work of extracting water from the approximately 310 feet deep mine is going on with special machines brought by ONGC and Coal India.
Mine is not illegal: CM Sarma
The Chief Minister had earlier claimed that this mine was closed 12 years ago and till three years ago this mine was under the Assam Mineral Development Corporation. He said on Friday, “This mine was not illegal, but it was an abandoned mine. That day the workers had entered the mine for the first time to extract coal.
He said that the leader of the workers has been arrested and the police is investigating the matter.
What are the difficulties in rescue operations?
Several teams from various central and state organizations and the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces, Army, Navy and Air Force, are involved in the operation to rescue workers trapped in water-logged mines in Assam. Rescue workers said the water that entered the 3kg coal mine in Umrangsu has now become acidic and dirty because it has mixed with the coal. Due to this, the Navy team is facing difficulty in visibility and moving forward. The naval team comprises divers trained in deep dive and recovery operations.
He said that the divers of the rescue team had to risk their lives to take out the body, which they did on Wednesday.
An official said that due to dirty water it is becoming difficult to use remote controlled vehicles.
no blue print of the mine
Part of the difficulty in locating the workers is that the 310-foot-deep main shaft ‘rat-hole’ in the mine leads to four smaller tunnels, each of which has branches, forming a large network. Also, there is no blueprint of the mine available for the reference of rescue teams.
Speaking to NDTV on Wednesday, Jalaluddin, a mine employee, had said that some of the tunnels are barely three feet high. He said, “There is no space even to stand and we have to bend down to collect coal. Even when sitting, the ceiling is only 4-5 inches above our heads.”
