8 Jan, Guwahati - A body was retrieved from a coal mine in Dima Hasao's Umrangso area two days after water surged into the quarry, trapping at least nine workers inside. The incident has brought attention to the perilous conditions faced by laborers in what is suspected to be an illegal mining operation.

The rescue operation, involving multiple agencies including navy, army, and disaster response forces (NDRF and SDRF), is ongoing. A team of divers from 21 Para, flown in from Visakhapatnam, successfully recovered a body from the 340-foot-deep mine well in the 3 Kilo area.

Efforts to drain the water from the quarry have intensified, with de-watering pumps from the SDRF arriving at the site. Additionally, an ONGC de-watering pump, transported via an MI-17 helicopter, is on standby awaiting favorable weather conditions for deployment.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been monitoring the situation closely. He confirmed that Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy has assured support, including a specialized rescue team from Coal India set to join the efforts. The water level inside the mine has risen to nearly 100 feet, posing a significant challenge to rescue operations.

The trapped laborers have been identified as Ganga Bahadur Shreth, Hussain Ali, Jakir Hussain, Sarpa Barman, Mustafa Seikh, Khushi Mohan Rai, Sanjit Sarkar, Lijan Magar, and Sarat Goyary.

Mr. Sarma indicated that the mine appears to be operating illegally, and police have already arrested one person in connection with the incident. Rescue teams are racing against time to save the remaining trapped workers, as families and communities wait anxiously for news.