Assam Mines Accident: Many workers are feared trapped after water entered a “rat hole” mine in Assam today. The 300-foot deep mine is located in Umrangso, a remote industrial town in Dima Hasao district. Sources said that water has reached about 100 feet in the mine. Police and rescue teams have left for the spot. This area is close to the Meghalaya border.
What is a rat hole?
“Rat hole” mining is a dangerous technique, where narrow tunnels are dug manually by workers. These tunnels lead to deep pits, from where coal is mined. They also harm the environment, as acidic water and heavy metals released from mines are toxic to water sources used for agriculture and human consumption.
how many workers are trapped
At present, 18-20 laborers are feared to be trapped. Sources say that the Rat Hole mine is about 300 feet deep and the workers are trapped between 50 to 100 feet. Assam Police has started the rescue operation. Water is being pumped out using two motor pumps and the pump is on the way. Police sources said that NDRF teams have left from many places including Guwahati.
Most of the mines in Meghalaya are illegal
Earlier in 2018, 15 miners were trapped in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district after water from a nearby river entered it. The then Commandant SK Shastri had then said that the National Disaster Response Force had seen only two bodies. In 2019, Meghalaya was fined Rs 100 crore by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for failing to stop illegal coal mining in the state. The NGT had found that most of the 24,000 mines in the state were illegal.
Assam CM seeks army’s help
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has sought help from the army. He himself has informed about this by tweeting. Along with this, the names of 9 laborers trapped in the mine have also been given.
List of Laborers Trapped in Mine (Umrangsu)
1.Ganga Bahadur Shreth (38 years)
S/o: Late Man Harbhajan Shreth
R/o: Rampur (Dummana-2Bhijpur), PS Thoksila, Dist: Udayapur, Nepal
2.Hussain Ali (30 years)
S/o: Alom Uddin
R/o: Bagaribari, PS Shyampur, Dist: Darrang, Assam
3.Jakir… https://t.co/cCx6CYSa93— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 6, 2025
List of workers trapped in the mine (Umrangsu)
1. Ganga Bahadur Shrestha (38 years)
R/O: Rampur (Dummana-2 Bheijpur), PS Thoksila, Dist: Udaipur, Nepal
2. Hussain Ali (30 years)
R/O: Bagaribari, PS Shyampur, Dist: Darrang, Assam
3. Zakir Hussain (38 years)
R/O: 4 No. Sialmari Khuti, PS Dalgaon, Dist: Darrang, Assam
4. Sarp Burman (46 years)
R/o: Khalisanimari, PS Gossaigaon, Dist: Kokrajhar, Assam
5. Mustafa Shaikh (44 years)
R/O: Bagribari, PS Dalgaon, Dist: Darrang, Assam
6. Khushi Mohan Rai (57 years)
R/O: Majergaon, PS Fakirgram, Dist: Kokrajhar, Assam
7. Sanjeet Sarkar (35 years)
R/O: Raichenga, Dist: Jalpaiguri, West Bengal
8. Lijan Magar (26 years)
R/o: Assam Coal Mine, PS Umrangso, Dist: Dima Hasao, Assam
9. Sharat Goyari (37 years)
R/O: Thilapara, Batashipur, PO Panbari, Dist: Sonitpur, Assam
