Photo: PTI
Guwahati: As rescue efforts by the Army, Navy, and NDRF proceeded on Saturday, the body of another miner was found at the rat-hole coal mine in the Dima Hasao region of Assam.
Rescue efforts are continuing for the seven miners who are still trapped. Lijen Magar, 27, of Kalamati village in Umrangso, Dima Hasao, has been identified as the deceased.
Prior to this, on Monday, the body of a Nepalese miner was found inside the mine. According to an official, as the army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) divers attempted to retrieve the worker, Magar's body was discovered floating on accumulated water in the mine.
"Rescue efforts in Umrangsu continue with unwavering resolve. Tragically, another body was recovered this morning...Our hearts go out to the grieving, as we hold on to hope and strength in this difficult time," Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X.
Notably, a sudden burst of water flooded the 3-Kilo Coal Quarry in the Umrangso district, roughly 250 km from Guwahati, trapping the workers inside since January 6, TNIE reported.
On Friday, the water level in the 300-foot-deep mine dropped by 7 meters from its previous level of about 100 feet. A 500-gallon-per-minute heavy-pressure pump is being installed, and authorities used five pumps to remove the water. The pump was flown in from Maharashtra by Coal India Limited.
Previously, authorities suspected a connection to an external water supply because the water level did not decrease despite dewatering attempts.
Consequently, water was pumped out of three nearby abandoned mines on Friday. According to officials, a second machine has been imported from Nagpur and will begin operations on Saturday morning. If everything works properly, they noted, the water buildup should be removed by the evening.