The death toll in the flooded Assam coal mine tragedy has risen to four after three more bodies were recovered on Saturday. At least nine workers have been feared trapped since Monday due to flooding at the Assam Coal Quarry in Umrangso, located in Dima Hasao district.
On Saturday, the first body identified as Lijan Magar, a 27-year-old resident of Umrangso, was recovered by Indian Army personnel. Later, divers recovered two more bodies of miners from the flooded mine, although their identities have not yet been confirmed.
The search began on Wednesday when divers recovered the body of Ganga Bahadur Srestho, a 21-year-old miner from Udaypur, Nepal, who had been trapped under a trolley submerged in nearly 100 feet of water. Efforts to drain the mine continued overnight, with divers and rescue teams working tirelessly in hopes of recovering the remaining trapped miners.
Authorities are still unclear about the exact number of workers trapped, with speculation suggesting there may be more than the initial nine miners reported missing. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that while nine families had reported missing workers, there could be others whose whereabouts are unknown.
The mine had been abandoned 12 years ago, and although it was legally operated by the Assam Mines and Minerals Department, the decision to restart operations was deemed illegal. Police have made two arrests in connection with the incident: Hanan Laskar, the head of the workers, and Punish Nunisa, the mine’s leaseholder.
As rescue operations continue, the region holds its breath for any signs of additional survivors.
