Dima Hasao: Rescue operations involving multiple central and state organisations, along with all branches of the Indian Armed Forces – the Army, Navy and Air Force – are underway to save labourers trapped in a flooded mine in Assam since Monday. Three days into the mission, eight workers remain stuck inside the ‘rat-hole’ mine, while the body of a ninth has been found. What is complicating the rescue effort? Experts point to many challenges:
Rescuers said that the water flooding the 3 Kilo Coal Quarry in Umrangso, Dima Hasao district, has turned acidic and murky due to its mixture with coal, stopping visibility and movement. The situation has posed a huge challenge even for the Navy’s clearance divers, who are adept in deep-water diving and recovery. Despite these difficulties, divers risked their lives to retrieve the body on Wednesday, NDTV reported.
Rescue efforts hampered
An official said that the murky conditions are also limiting the use of remote-operated vehicles. It has further slowed the rescue process. The mine, which extends 310 feet underground, has been targeted by several pumps in an attempt to drain the water. On Wednesday, a specialised team from Western Coalfields Limited, known for its expertise in similar rescue operations, was brought in with a substantial submersible pump.
“A team of five was flown to the accident site on January 8 in a C-130 Hercules aircraft. They are equipped with a large submersible pump capable of removing 500 gallons of water per minute up to a height of 150 meters, along with a complex cable network, starters, and other necessary equipment to assist in the rescue,” Western Coalfields said in a statement.
Complex tunnels slow rescue
But the water level in the main shaft remains around 100 feet, adding to the operation’s complexity. Another major challenge is the mine’s structure. The 310-foot deep main shaft splits into four small tunnels that branch out into a vast network, for which there is no available blueprint to guide the rescuers.
Speaking to NDTV on Wednesday, mine worker Jalaluddin described the cramped conditions of the tunnels. He said, “The height of some tunnels is barely three feet. There’s no room to stand; we have to bend while mining coal. Even when sitting, the roof is just 4-5 inches above our heads.” Harmeet Singh, Special Director General of Police, said, “Water is seeping back into the tunnel through various channels. The Navy divers are inspecting the tunnels, but they have not found anything yet.”
