In a tragic incident in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, at least three miners were feared killed while 17 others are still trapped in a flooded rat-hole mine in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso in Assam.

The incident occurred on Monday when a sudden flood inundated the 300 feet deep mine, believed to have been caused by damage to an underground water source during excavation.

Advertisement

The deceased miners have been identified, and their bodies are visible from the surface.

However, the recovery efforts have been fraught with challenges as waterlogging and hazardous conditions hinder the rescue mission.

Rescue operations involving the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local authorities are ongoing, with Navy divers on standby.

Seventeen miners have been trapped inside the mines.

The missing individuals include miners from Assam, West Bengal, and Nepal, highlighting the diverse workforce in the region’s mining sector.

Among those trapped are Hussain Ali, Jakir Hussain, and Mustafa Sheikh from Assam; Krishna Pada Sarkar from West Bengal; and Ganga Bahadur Shreth from Nepal’s Udaypur district.

Dima Hasao, a remote and hilly district in Assam, has long been a hub for coal mining despite the inherent risks associated with the practice.

The Assam police have registered an FIR under Umrangso PS Case No: 02/2025, citing Sections 3(5)/105 BNS and Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, in connection with the ongoing investigation into the Umrangso mine incident.

Preliminary findings suggest the mine may be operating illegally.

Police have arrested one individual, Punish Nunisa, in connection with the case.

Rat-hole mining, where narrow tunnels are dug to extract coal, remains common in the region. These mines are notorious for their lack of safety protocols, with workers often operating in hazardous conditions. Accidents, including collapses and flooding, have frequently resulted in fatalities over the years.

The latest disaster has reignited debates over the regulation of coal mining in the state. Environmentalists and labor rights activists have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of safety measures, citing the recurring loss of life in unregulated mines.

However, the lucrative nature of coal extraction and its economic importance for local communities have made such reforms difficult to implement.

Rescue teams have been working tirelessly under challenging conditions, with divers attempting to navigate the flooded tunnels to locate the trapped miners.

The first team entered the mine at 8:45 am on Tuesday, nearly 24 hours after the disaster occurred. Family members and co-workers of the trapped miners have gathered at the site, anxiously awaiting updates and holding vigils for their loved ones.

Floating helmets and slippers on the water’s surface have fueled fears for the safety of the missing workers. The depth and complexity of the mine, coupled with the difficult terrain of Umrangso, have added to the challenges faced by rescue personnel.

The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the dire need for improved safety measures in coal mines and stricter oversight of mining operations in Assam.