Guwahati: The rescue efforts at a coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district have shifted focus, as Navy divers were withdrawn from the site on Tuesday.
With the likelihood of survival for the five remaining trapped miners growing increasingly slim, authorities are intensifying dewatering operations, which have entered their ninth day.
Specialised machines provided by ONGC and Coal India are working to reduce the water levels in the 340-foot-deep quarry.
Initially, the water stood at 100 feet, but it has gradually receded by 3 meters as of Monday.
Despite this progress, officials were unable to estimate when the quarry will be fully dewatered or when the search and rescue operations will resume.
“The Navy divers, who had been part of the operation since January 7, have now been withdrawn as the situation has become more challenging,” an official confirmed.
The incident began on January 6 when a sudden flood of water trapped nine workers inside the mine in Umrangso.
To date, four bodies have been recovered, with recovery efforts continuing despite the diminishing chances of finding survivors.
The ongoing dewatering process relies on nine pumps, with six additional pumps ready for use if necessary.
The rescue operation is being conducted collaboratively by the army, Assam Rifles, NDRF, SDRF, and local authorities.
An underwater remote-operated vehicle is also being deployed regularly to capture images of the trapped miners.
Authorities have confirmed the recovery of four bodies, with the first body found on January 8 and three others on Saturday.
The mine, which the Assam government claims was abandoned 12 years ago, was reportedly managed by the Assam Mineral Development Corporation until three years ago.
The tragic incident has drawn attention to the ongoing challenges surrounding mining operations in Assam, prompting further calls for investigation and improved safety measures.
