Efforts to rescue eight labourers trapped in a flooded coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district are on as specialized navy divers work alongside the army and the National Disaster Response Force personnel.

Harmeet Singh, Special DGP of Assam Police overseeing the operation, provided updates on the progress.

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Navy divers, equipped with advanced technology, including Remote Operating Vehicles (ROVs), entered the tunnels on Thursday morning.

Despite their efforts, visibility inside the tunnels remains limited, and the trapped individuals have yet to be located.

“The dewatering of the tunnel was completed, but water continues to pour in from channels. We are deploying small pumps to manage the situation while the divers search the tunnels,” Singh said.

One body was recovered by para-divers and sent to Haflong for post-mortem, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirming the development.

CM Sarma expressed his condolences on microblogging site X, saying, “21 Para divers have just recovered a lifeless body from the bottom of the well. Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving family.”

The Chief Minister also confirmed that the rescue operation is proceeding with full force, involving Navy, Army, and NDRF teams working in tandem.

Of the nine trapped labourers, one is a Nepali national, one hails from West Bengal, and the remaining seven are residents of Assam. They have been identified as Ganga Bahadur Shreth (Nepal), Hussain Ali, Jakir Hussain, Sarpa Barman, Mustafa Seikh, Khusi Mohan Rai, Sanjit Sarkar, Lijan Magar,and Sarat Goyary.

The coal mine in Umrangso has long been an area of concern due to its hazardous conditions and unregulated operations. The accident occurred when water unexpectedly flooded the tunnels, trapping the workers inside.

This tragedy has once again raised questions about the safety standards and enforcement mechanisms in small-scale and illegal mining operations across the region.

Dima Hasao district, a picturesque yet resource-rich area in Assam, has seen a surge in mining activities, often conducted under precarious conditions.

Activists and local residents have called for stricter oversight to prevent such incidents, but challenges remain in balancing economic activity with safety regulations.