NEW DELHI: The joint rescue team of the Indian Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) recovered a third body from the inundated rat-hole coal mine in the 3 Kilo Umrangso area of Assam’s Dima Hasao district on Sunday.
Earlier today, a second body was retrieved during an ongoing round-the-clock rescue operation.
The second victim was identified as Lt. Lijen Magar (27), a resident of Kalamati village in the district. The first body, recovered on January 8, was identified as Ganga Bahadur Shreth.
Search and rescue efforts continue as eight miners remain trapped in the flooded mine.
Roushan Kumar Singh, Inspector of the 1st Battalion of NDRF, said the second body was found floating inside the mine during the routine morning inspection of water levels. “We saw a body floating while checking the water level. It was recovered around 7.30am. The water level has reduced by six metres due to overnight dewatering efforts using five pumps,” he said. The dewatering operation remains active around the clock.
A 12-member special rescue team from Coal India joined the rescue mission on Friday to assist in locating the trapped miners.
Following the incident, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that the mine was operating illegally. A case has been registered under Umrangso PS Case No: 02/2025, citing Sections 3(5)/105 BNS, read with Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. One individual, Punish Nunisa, has been arrested in connection with the illegal operation of the mine.
The chief minister also discussed the ongoing rescue efforts with union coal minister G Kishan Reddy, seeking additional assistance to expedite the operation.
The mine collapsed earlier this week, leaving several workers trapped underground. The first body was recovered on January 8. Since then, rescue teams comprising the NDRF, Indian Army, Assam Rifles, and Coal India have been working relentlessly to locate and rescue the miners.
