The body of Ganga Bahadur Srestho from Nepal has been recovered from a flooded coal mine in Umrangso, Assam. Rescue teams continue efforts to find nine miners trapped since January 6.
Guwahati
Rescue operations at the waterlogged coal mine in Umrangso, Assam, led to the recovery of a miner’s body, identified as Ganga Bahadur Srestho from Udayapur district, Nepal. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the identification on January 8 through his social media platform, X, marking a significant breakthrough in the mission to rescue nine miners trapped underground since January 6.The recovery came after nearly 48 hours of intense efforts by a multi-agency team involving Army divers from the 21 Para Special Forces, the Navy, and disaster response units from NDRF and SDRF. The mine, located in the Dima Hasao district, has presented numerous challenges due to its submerged rat-hole structure.HPS Kandari, Commandant of the NDRF’s 1st Battalion, highlighted the difficulties faced in navigating the narrow and flooded shafts. Despite early setbacks, the divers’ persistence led to the discovery of the first victim, while further operations will target the labyrinthine tunnels where the remaining miners may be trapped.A massive dewatering operation is underway to reduce water levels inside the mine. SDRF has deployed pumps, while ONGC has provided specialized equipment. However, poor weather has hindered the aerial transport of gear using MI-17 helicopters from Kumbhigram, causing delays in rescue efforts.
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