Dima Hasao (Assam), 11 January
The death toll has increased to four as three more bodies were found today in the coal mine of 3 kg Umrangso area in Assam’s Dima Hasao district. After the efforts of a joint team involving the Indian Navy and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) engaged in relief and rescue operations, two more bodies have been removed from the mine today. The work of extracting water from the mine with pumps is continuing and the water level has reduced to six meters.
HPS Kandari, commandant of 1st battalion of NDRF, said, “If all the water in the mine is drained, then we can easily go inside and conduct a search operation. Four bodies have been recovered so far.” Meanwhile, an official said that a pump will be installed by Coal India to help in relief operations. Speaking to this news agency, Coal India Kolkata General Manager Sanjay Kumar said, “We have brought a new pump from Nagpur. We tested this pump the other day. The electrical power generator is ready. Meanwhile, small pumps are also in operation. The water is slowly receding. Today we will build a platform and after that we will take the pipe down.” Meanwhile, Inspector Roshan Kumar Singh of the 1st Battalion of NDRF said that he was checking the water level in the mine this morning when he found a dead body floating in the water. The water level has dropped to six meters. Five pumps are working day and night. -News-Patiala
