Dima Hasao, Assam – January 9, 2025: Efforts to rescue the remaining eight laborers trapped in a ‘rat-hole’ flooded coal mine in the Dima Hasao district of Assam continue unabated with multilateral efforts from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The mine at Umrangso remained submerged since January 6 and no victims have been rescued so far except for the body of the ninth worker.
Obstacles in the Rescue Operation
The most immediate challenge in the rescue operation is the flooded contaminated mine shaft to a depth of 310 feet. Initially clean, water within the shaft mixed with the coal from the mine shaft within a few hours became murky and acidic. This has obscured visibility significantly and made maneuvering extremely challenging for divers and rescuers. Teams from the Navy, including clearance divers who are trained for deep-water recovery operations, had to navigate these treacherous conditions to retrieve the body of one of the laborers on Wednesday.
Despite the use of remote-operated vehicles, the rescue teams are finding it difficult to carry out the rescue operations because the water is too murky, making the tools useless. Additionally, the tunnel system in the mine is complex, and the water level is still at nearly 100 feet in the main shaft.
Deployment of Specialized Equipment
To deal with the situation, a five-member expert team from WCL was flown to the site in a C-130 Hercules aircraft on January 8. The team brought with them a massive submersible pump capable of pumping out 500 gallons of water per minute at a height of 150 meters. Still, the situation is grave with the water level proving hard to control.
Complex Layout of the Mine
Another significant challenge is the mine’s layout. This mine shaft leads into four small tunnels, thus leading to a rather complex underground system. There isn’t any available blueprint for rescuers to use as a reference to identify the exact locations of the trapped laborers. These tunnels were narrow, and the inside of these tunnels is harsh with limited movement space. According to a local miner, “There is no room to even stand, and we have to bend and mine for coal. Even when sitting, the roof is just 4-5 inches above our heads.”
Harmeet Singh, a Special Director General of Police said that the divers from the navy are exploring the tunnel but have been unable to spot any of the stranded workers. Rescuers keep hoping to be able to track down the balance of the remaining laborers as the operation carries on.
The situation remains grave as the authorities are working hard to pump out the water and search for any signs of life. The ongoing operation continues to receive support from both state and central agencies, and the local community is hoping for a successful conclusion to the difficult rescue mission.
