Assam: Rescue Operations Hampered by Fresh Water Seepage in Flooded Coal Mine

DIMA HASAO: Operations to rescue the remaining five miners trapped in a flooded coal quarry in Assam's Dima Hasao district are being hampered by suspected seepage of fresh water from underground streams, which is slowing down the dewatering process, officials said on Thursday.

“Water is being continuously pumped out. But it has been slow, as it is now suspected that fresh water from some source underground keeps replenishing it,” they said. The officials said NDRF, SDRF, and army personnel remained engaged in the rescue operations, while navy divers were withdrawn.

The coal mine in the Umrangso area was flooded on January six when water gushed in suddenly, trapping nine workers inside. Four bodies have been recovered since then in the rescue operations. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said on Wednesday that 18 machines are being used for the dewatering process.

“Daily, about one foot of water is receding in the dewatering process. But we suspect that water from some underground stream is seeping in as the pace of water receding is slow, and the water inside, which was black initially, is getting clearer now,” he said.

Officials had said that machines brought by the ONGC and Coal India are being used for the dewatering process, with the water level, which was initially at 100 feet, coming down gradually.

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