Shillong: Junu Pradhan, the wife of 27-year-old Lijen Magar, who was killed in the tragic Umrangso coal mine accident in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, is grappling with the immense loss of her husband, the sole breadwinner of their family. Left with a two-month-old baby to care for, Junu finds herself feeling “totally helpless.”
Speaking to ANI, she expressed her grief and concern for the future. “He was the only earning source of our family. I have a 2-month-old child and I don’t know what will be our future. I am now totally helpless,” she said, her voice filled with sorrow.
Lijen Magar was one of nine workers trapped inside the rat-hole coal mine after water flooded the tunnels on January 6. While rescue operations are ongoing, four bodies have been recovered so far, including Lijen’s, along with the remains of three other workers—Khusi Mohan Rai, 57, Sarat Goyary, 37, and Ganga Bahadur Shreth, 27.
Junu recalled that January 6 was the first working day of the mine for her husband. “That day was the first working day of the mine and my husband also went to the mine along with other people. I don’t know how we will live. How I will grow my child,” she said, her voice trembling.
She shared that she had been married to Lijen just two years ago, and now, with her husband’s untimely death, she is left to face an uncertain future.
The ongoing rescue operations are being carried out by a joint team from the Indian Army, Navy, NDRF, and other agencies. The operation has thus far recovered four bodies, with five miners still missing. The de-watering process is continuing, and officials are hopeful that it will soon allow for the safe recovery of the remaining trapped workers.
“Coal India’s pumps have been placed here. We will try to rescue the remaining people trapped after the de-watering process is completed,” said Inspector Roshan Kumar Nath of NDRF.