Indian Navy mobilizes specialized team to assist in Assam mining rescue

DIMA HASAO (Assam): The Indian Navy has mobilized a specialized rescue team to aid in the recovery of miners trapped in Umrangso, a remote industrial town located in Assam’s Dima Hasao district.

According to sources, the Navy team, consisting of one officer and eleven sailors, includes highly trained clearance divers. These divers are skilled in deep-depth diving and recovery operations, making them well-suited to the complex rescue mission at hand. The team has already reached the site and is actively assisting local authorities in the operation.

#WATCH | In response to an urgent request for assistance, the Indian Navy has mobilized a specialised team to assist in the rescue of miners trapped in Umrangso, a remote industrial town in the Dima Hasao district of Assam. The team, comprising one officer and eleven sailors,… pic.twitter.com/pnJIcSvO9Q

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2025

Meanwhile, one dead body has been recovered from the collapsed coal mine at 3 Kilo, Umrangso, where nine miners were trapped on January 6. According to a statement from an NDRF official, one body has been recovered by the divers of NDRF, the Indian army.

The joint rescue operation led by the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and other agencies resumed early morning to rescue nine miners trapped in a coal mine in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso, Dima Hasao.

According to NDRF Deputy Commandant, N Tiwari, the efforts are continuing round-the-clock with an expanded team. He added that the combined forces of the NDRF and the Army are working on the ground, with support expected from the Navy in the coming hours.

Earlier, H P S Kandari, Commandant of the 1st Battalion of the NDRF spoke about the difficulties faced by the joint rescue team. Kandari said, “Many attempts were made yesterday but we didn’t succeed… A joint team dived today (in the mine) and we have recovered one body”.

The mine collapse, which trapped several workers, has posed numerous challenges for rescue teams due to the hazardous conditions underground. Diving experts are now being called upon for specialized support. Kandari highlighted the dangers and uncertainties of the operation, stating, “Diving in other places is another thing but in these situations, we need experts as we cannot guesstimate what conditions would be there inside. There can be several types of mining equipment which can hinder the rescue process”. (ANI)