Umrangso Mine Tragedy: Three More Bodies Recovered, Five Miners Still Missing

Guwahati: The search for miners trapped in a waterlogged coal mine in Umrangso, Assam, has entered its sixth day, with a fourth body recovered on January 11. Despite relentless efforts by rescue teams, five miners remain missing.

The most recent recovery, which brings the death toll to four, follows the discovery of three previous bodies as rescuers continue to battle challenging conditions. More than 160 hours of continuous work have been put in by the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other emergency response teams.

The first body was retrieved on January 8: Ganga Bahadur Shrestha, 38, from Rampur, Udrajpur, Nepal. This marked the beginning of an intensified search operation that continued into January 11. Early in the morning at 7:36 AM, the body of 27-year-old Lijen Magar from Kalamati, Umrangso, was found.

A second body was recovered shortly after at 10:20 AM—57-year-old Khusi Mohan Rai from Magergaon, Kokrajhar. Then, at 12:36 PM, the body of Sarat Goyary, 37, from Thailapara, Sonitpur, was discovered. These recoveries further highlight the gravity of the disaster.

Rescue teams, including Army divers from the 21 Para Special Forces, NDRF personnel, and other experts, are working in the dangerous, submerged environment of the illegal rat-hole mine in Tin Kilo, Umrangso. Using an underwater Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV), they continue their search for the remaining miners. As of 4:30 PM, the water level in the mine is still at 12 meters, severely impeding progress.

To aid the operation, five high-capacity water pumps are being used to dewater the mine, allowing teams to explore more areas and attempt to recover the remaining miners.