An unspecified number of workers are feared trapped inside a coal mine in Dima Hasao district in Assam. The incident occurred on Monday morning after underground water seeped into the mine. Officials are still unclear about the exact number of workers trapped or their condition. The mine, located at Tin Kilo in the Umrangshoo region, is operated by the state’s Mines and Minerals Department. Due to its remote location, about 5-6 hours from the district headquarters in Haflong, rescue operations have been delayed. Disaster response teams from the state and […]
Assam Coal Mine Accident: Workers Feared Trapped After Water Seepage
An unspecified number of workers are feared trapped inside a coal mine in Dima Hasao district in Assam. The incident occurred on Monday morning after underground water seeped into the mine. Officials are still unclear about the exact number of workers trapped or their condition.
The mine, located at Tin Kilo in the Umrangshoo region, is operated by the state’s Mines and Minerals Department. Due to its remote location, about 5-6 hours from the district headquarters in Haflong, rescue operations have been delayed. Disaster response teams from the state and central governments are en route, but have not yet reached the site as of Monday evening.
Simanta Kumar Das, Deputy Commissioner of Dima Hasao, confirmed the incident and stated, “Since the location is hard to access, it is not clear how many people are inside or their condition.” Local police reached the area later in the afternoon, but no one could provide immediate information about the situation.
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As nightfall arrived, officials confirmed that rescue operations would begin at 6 am on Tuesday. The mine’s remote location, coupled with the lack of information, has slowed the process. “We received the information around 1 pm, but it took several hours for the police team to reach the site,” said Das. “I am on my way to the spot to verify what happened.”
The state government had contracted a private firm to operate the mine. However, when the incident occurred, workers from the firm reportedly fled the scene, leaving behind a lack of vital information.
Rikki B. Phukan, District Disaster Management Officer of Dima Hasao, revealed that a group of workers entered the mine at around 9 am on Monday. “Although there was no rainfall, underground water seeped into the mine, trapping the workers,” Phukan said. The exact cause of the seepage is still under investigation.
This is not the first mining tragedy in Assam. In May of the previous year, three workers died when an illegal coal mine in Tinsukia district collapsed following a landslide.
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The ongoing investigation is focused on determining the number of people trapped and the exact reasons for the water seepage. Authorities continue to work in challenging conditions, with little clarity on the workers’ whereabouts or their current situation.
Rescue teams are hopeful that operations will commence at daybreak, with hopes of reaching any survivors and bringing the situation under control.
