Prima facie it appears to be an illegal mine: CM
OUR BUREAU
GUWAHATI/HAFLONG: Divers of the army, navy, and NDRF have swung into action to rescue the nine workers trapped in a flooded coal mine in Umrangshu in the Dima Hasao district. A rescue team from Coal India Ltd. (CIL) will also join the rescue operation tomorrow.
The rescue team comprises specialists like divers, sappers, and other relevant personnel with necessary equipment.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Prima facie it appears to be an illegal mine. A case has been registered in this connection, leading to the arrest of a person named Punish Nunisha. Since mining is a subject falling under the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, we cannot interfere in all such matters. However, now the government will see who has given permission for mining there and if any illegalities are involved. Around 100 ft of water has entered the mine. Maybe the workers have been trapped in rat holes. The picture will be clear only after dewatering the mine.”
A high-level team of government officials has been overseeing the rescue operation. All efforts are being made to expedite the rescue operation and ensure the safety of the trapped workers. The mines’ remote location and lack of infrastructure complicated the operation. Recognising the complexity of the situation and the need for specialised expertise, the army dispatched an engineering task force. A special divers’ team of the Navy from Visakhapatnam has been deployed in the rescue operation.
The trapped workers have been identified as Ganga Bahadur Shresth, Hussain Ali, Jakir Hussain, Sarpa Barman, Mustafa Sheikh, Khusi Mohan Rai, Sanjit Sarkar, Dal Bahadur Magar, and Sarat Goyary.
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