The recovery of a fourth body from the waterlogged Umrangso coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district has deepened the tragedy, with five miners still unaccounted for as rescue operations continue.
On January 11, rescue personnel recovered three bodies, raising the total death toll to four since the flooding of the coal mine on January 6. Despite round-the-clock efforts by Army divers and local forces, the whereabouts of the remaining miners remain unknown, keeping the operation in a critical phase.
The third body was retrieved earlier in the day, with identification pending for two of the recovered bodies. Meanwhile, the identity of the second miner, found in the morning, was confirmed as Ligen Magar, a 27-year-old resident of 1 No. Umrangshu, Dima Hasao. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma acknowledged the development in a statement on X, extending condolences to the family.
The first miner’s body, recovered on January 8 by Army divers from the 21 Para Special Forces, was identified as Ganga Bahadur Srestho, a resident of Udayapur district, Nepal.
Efforts to locate and rescue the remaining miners have intensified, with the site still posing significant challenges due to waterlogging and unstable conditions. The incident has drawn attention to safety practices and illegal mining operations in the region, sparking demands for stricter regulations and accountability.
As rescue teams persist in their mission, the region remains tense, with families and local communities awaiting news of their loved ones. The tragedy has underscored the dire need for improved safety measures in mining operations to prevent such disasters in the future.