DIMA HASAO — An FIR has been registered under Umrangso PS Case No: 02/2025 in connection with the ongoing investigation into the flooding of a coal mine in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso, Dima Hasao district, where 15 labourers remain trapped. The case, filed under Sections 3(5)/105 BNS and Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, underscores the illegal operations suspected at the Assam Coal Quarry.
Authorities have arrested one individual, Punish Nunisa, as investigations intensify to uncover the details surrounding the incident. Preliminary findings suggest the mine may have been operating unlawfully, adding a legal dimension to the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
The tragedy unfolded on January 6 when sudden flooding inundated the mine, leaving workers with no time to escape. Early reports indicate that an underground water source may have been breached, causing a rapid influx of water. Eyewitness accounts described the scene as chaotic, with rising water levels cutting off escape routes and trapping the miners deep underground.
Dima Hasao Superintendent of Police, Mayank Kumar Jha, stated, “Several people are feared trapped inside the coal mine in the Umrangso area. We cannot confirm the exact number of trapped individuals at this time.”
Emergency response teams, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have launched a massive rescue operation. Specialized equipment is being used to pump water from the mine, while additional manpower has been deployed to assist with the effort.
The rescue mission remains critical as authorities race against time to save the trapped miners. The incident has drawn attention to the safety protocols and legal oversight of mining operations in the region, raising questions about regulatory enforcement and worker safety.
Efforts are ongoing, and updates on the situation are expected as authorities continue to coordinate rescue operations and investigate the cause of the disaster.
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