Rescue Operations Underway as Miners Remain Trapped in Flooded Coal Mine in Assam

Guwahati, January 7, 2025: Rescue operations are underway in the Dima Hasao district of Assam after several miners became trapped in a flooded illegal "rat-hole" coal mine on Monday. The miners got trapped when water flooded the narrow, dangerous shaft of the illegal mine, which had been manually dug to extract coal. Nine miners are reported to be trapped underground, and while three of them are feared dead, rescue teams are continuing their efforts to save the remaining miners. Despite the national ban on rat-hole mining that has been in place since 2014, such illegal operations continue to thrive in Assam and other northeastern states. Economic hardships faced by people living in these states, along with lack of employment opportunities, often drive them to take up such kinds of dangerous occupations.

Local authorities are still working to confirm the exact number of miners caught in the accident, although early reports suggest that over a dozen miners managed to escape. The rescue efforts are being supported by the Indian Army, which has deployed personnel to assist local authorities. Assam's Director General of Police, GP Singh, stated that while three bodies have been spotted, they are yet to be recovered, raising concerns about the fate of the trapped miners.

Rat-hole mining, characterized by its narrow, unsafe tunnels, remains a prevalent practice in the region despite the official ban. Such mining operations put miners at extreme risk, and this latest incident highlights the urgent need for more stringent enforcement of laws prohibiting such activities. The incident comes just months after a similar disaster in Meghalaya, another northeastern state, where 15 miners died after a mine was flooded in December 2018.

The continued occurrence of mining tragedies underscores the dire working conditions faced by miners in illegal, unregulated operations. The loss of life in such accidents points to the need for greater protection of workers' rights and stricter regulations to prevent such accidents from recurring.

Courtesy: Vatican News