The leader of the workers trapped at the bottom of a flooded rat-hole coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district was arrested late Thursday night. Rescuers from the Navy and Army continued their efforts on the fifth day of the operation, though progress remained limited.
An official stated that the dewatering process of the 340-foot-deep vertical shaft is ongoing, utilizing specialized equipment provided by ONGC and Coal India. Thus far, one body, identified as a Nepalese worker, has been recovered. The incident occurred on January 6, when a sudden influx of water flooded the 3-kilometer coal quarry in Umrangso, trapping several laborers. Police revealed that the workers’ leader, Hanan Laskar, had fled the site following the incident. Earlier, on Tuesday, Punish Nunisa, the leaseholder of the quarry, was also taken into custody.
The tragedy has sparked political outrage, with Congress staging a state-wide sit-in demonstration on Friday to protest against the alleged illegal coal syndicate operating in the region. APCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah criticized the state government, accusing Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of failing to address the situation. Borah said the demonstration, titled “In Search of Truth: Who is the kingpin of the coal syndicate?” aimed to uncover those responsible for the illegal activities and demand their names be made public.
“The Chief Minister has not expressed sorrow for the loss of lives or visited the affected families. Neither BJP politicians nor workers have offered support to the families during this critical time. Even the BJP national president, who recently visited Assam, has remained silent on the tragedy,” Borah added.
Congress MP and Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, also voiced his concerns, stating that illegal mining has been a long-standing issue in the region, with similar incidents occurring repeatedly. Gogoi called for the Chief Minister to take full accountability for the tragedy and demanded strict action against those involved in illegal mining operations. He also emphasized the need for compensation for the families of the victims and exemplary punishment for those responsible.
