Guwahati, Jan 9: Rescue operations at the coal mine in “3 Kilo,” Umrongso, located in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, continue into the third day with no sign yet of the trapped miners, dead or alive. Efforts are being conducted by a 35-member team of the 1st Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), assisted by the Indian Army, Navy, Assam Rifles, and Fire and Emergency Services.
The Indian Navy is employing sonar equipment to aid the search-and-rescue operation. NDRF personnel are also conducting deep-diving operations. On Thursday, teams focused on dewatering the mine, utilizing a heavy-duty motor pump provided by ONGC Silchar.
Despite their efforts, over 70 feet of water remains in the mine. “Tomorrow, we will deploy a heavy suction pump to accelerate the dewatering process,” an official of Assam state Disaster management (ASDMA) official confirmed.
NDRF Inspector Roshan Kumar Singh explained that despite deploying heavy-duty pumps to dewater the mine, the water level has not decreased. Instead, it continues to rise, complicating search-and-rescue efforts.
“We have searched the vertical area of the mine but haven’t been able to find anything. Water is still flowing into the mine, and the level has only increased, not decreased,” Singh said.
The Indian Navy has brought sonar equipment to aid in the search operation. Singh highlighted that the operation is a collaborative effort involving the Navy, NDRF, and Indian Army, with all teams striving to overcome the challenges posed by the continuous inflow of water. “This joint operation has been underway for three days, but the situation remains critical due to the flooding,” he added.
Efforts are now concentrated on removing water from the mine using heavy pumps. The rescuers are hopeful that upcoming plans, including the deployment of more advanced suction pumps, will improve the situation and enable further search operations.
The persistence of flooding has become the biggest obstacle in the mission, underscoring the dire need for innovative solutions and continued support to bring the rescue operation to a successful conclusion
