NEW DELHI: Several laborers are feared to be trapped within a coal mine situated in the Dima Hasao district of Assam, officials said on Monday.
The incident took place at a mining site in the Umrangso region of the district reportedly after water gushed inside unexpectedly. Based on accounts from quarry workers, approximately 15 individuals were working at the time, however, officials have not confirmed these numbers.
“Several people feared trapped inside a coal mine in the Umrangso area in the Dima Hasao district. We can’t say the exact figure as of now,” said Dima Hasao Superintendent of Police (SP) Mayank Kumar Jha while speaking to ANI.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma offered prayers for the trapped and said that they have sought assistance from the army while the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were on the way to the site. “Distressing news from Umrangshu, where laborers are trapped in a coal mine. The exact number and status are yet unknown. The DC, SP, and my colleague, Shri Kaushik Rai, are rushing to the site. Praying to God for everyone’s safety,” he said in a post on X.
Then giving update on the rescue efforts, he added, “We have requested the Army’s assistance in the ongoing rescue operation. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are also on their way to the incident site to aid in the efforts.”
Initial reports and firsthand observations cited by PTI indicate that the sudden rush of water caught the miners off guard, preventing their evacuation from the site.
