Efforts to drain the flooded coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district have faced significant setbacks, as the water level in the quarry began rising again on Monday. Despite round-the-clock dewatering operations, water from a nearby aquifer continues to flood the mine, hindering rescue operations for the remaining trapped miners.
The mine, located in the 3 Kilo area, was flooded on January 6 after illegal miners struck an underground water source. Around 40 workers had entered the nearly 300-feet deep quarry, and while 25 managed to escape, at least nine remain trapped. Four bodies have been recovered so far, but five miners are still missing.
Authorities had initially made progress with dewatering efforts, using nine traditional pumps to reduce the water level. According to GD Tripathi, CEO of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the water level had decreased but has since stabilized. “It appears that water is entering the mine from an external source,” Tripathi explained.
To accelerate the dewatering process, six additional pumps have been brought in from Guwahati, and the installation of more pumps is underway. Once fully operational, a total of 15 pumps will work to bring the water level down. Additionally, six pumps are being used to dewater nearby mines suspected of contributing to the flooding.
Despite the arrival of a heavy-duty pump from Coal India, capable of pumping out 2,250 liters per minute, it has not yet been deployed.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reported that, while the water level had initially dropped by 18 meters, it rose again over the weekend. As of Monday evening, approximately 29 meters of water (around 95 feet) remains in the quarry, complicating ongoing search and rescue efforts.
