Two more bodies recovered from Assam coal mine after 44 days
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Rescue teams in Assam’s Dima Hasao district have recovered the bodies of two more miners who had been trapped inside a coal mine in Umrangshu for 44 days, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The decomposed remains were discovered during an ongoing dewatering operation that has been underway for over a month.
With this latest recovery, the total number of bodies retrieved from the mine has risen to six out of the nine workers who were trapped on January 6. The bodies are yet to be formally identified, authorities said.
The rescue mission began immediately after the miners were reported missing, with divers and specialised teams working tirelessly to locate them. The first body was recovered on January 8, followed by three more on January 11. The state government has been overseeing the operation, ensuring that the dewatering process continues until all trapped workers are accounted for.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma previously stated that removing water from the mine could take anywhere from 25 to 60 days, depending on the progress of the operation. He reaffirmed that efforts would continue until a "logical conclusion" is reached.
The Assam government has announced financial assistance for the families of the trapped miners. Rs 10 lakh has been allocated for the relatives of each deceased worker, while families of those still trapped have so far received Rs 6 lakh each. The state has assured that all families affected by the tragedy will receive Rs 10 lakh in total.
In response to the disaster, the state government has ordered a judicial inquiry, led by retired High Court judge Anima Hazarika, to investigate the circumstances leading to the incident.
Officials previously claimed that the mine had been abandoned 12 years ago and was under the control of the Assam Mineral Development Corporation until three years ago. However, illegal mining activity in the area remains a concern.