9 lives trapped during excavation of mine, army arrived for help

9 workers are trapped in a 300 feet deep coal mine in Umrangso in Dima Hasao district of Assam for the last 48 hours. At present, the rescue workers have taken out the body of a labourer. Army has been deployed to protect the workers. This accident happened on January 6 when the workers were extracting coal from the mine. The rescue operation was called off on Tuesday night. The rescue operation has been started again in the morning. Along with the Army, teams of NDRF and SDRF are also engaged in rescue work.

Apart from the Army, the Engineers Task Force is engaged in rescue operations.

Apart from the Army, the Engineers Task Force is engaged in rescue operations. According to the report, the mine has been filled with water up to 100 feet. Meanwhile, Navy divers are also deployed in rescue operations. A helicopter carrying senior officers, including the Chief Engineer, Inspector General of Assam Rifles and CO Para Unit, keeps a constant vigil from the Corps Headquarters in Dimapur.

Dima Hasao district SP Mayank Jha said that many laborers are feared to be trapped. According to eyewitnesses, water came suddenly due to which the workers could not come out. At present, Navy, Army, NDRF and SDRF personnel are busy searching for the labourers.

What did the Chief Minister say?

Meanwhile, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on Twitter, said that 21 para divers have recovered a lifeless body from the bottom of the well. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family. The rescue operation is in full swing, divers of the Army and NDRF are descending into the well. Navy personnel have also reached the spot. Along with this, de-watering pumps of SDRF are also reaching the spot.

Divers have left from Visakhapatnam

Indian Navy divers have left from Visakhapatnam and are expected to reach Umrangso soon. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has shared updates on the mine accident on social media. Sarma wrote that the rescue operation is going on in full swing and divers of the Army and NDRF have gone into the well.

Navy personnel are on site and making final preparations for the next dive. Meanwhile, SDRF de-watering pumps from Umrangshu have been sent to the spot. Additionally, ONGC’s de-watering pumps have been loaded onto Mi-17 helicopters at Kumphigram. Weather approval is awaited for its deployment.