Rescue teams have recovered the body of one worker from a flooded coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, nearly 48 hours after at least nine individuals were reported trapped underground. The incident occurred due to heavy flooding, and efforts are underway to locate the remaining workers, believed to be stranded 300 feet below ground. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the recovery of the body and expressed condolences to the grieving family, while rescue operations continue in full force.

Specialized divers from the army, navy, and disaster response teams such as NDRF and SDRF have been deployed to the site. De-watering pumps, including equipment from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, were rushed to the scene to assist in draining the flooded shaft, though persistent rainfall poses significant challenges. On Tuesday, confusion emerged regarding the number of workers trapped, with some officials suggesting nine, while others estimated the figure could be as high as 15. Speculation about fatalities was fueled when helmets and slippers were seen floating on the water, but officials have only confirmed one death so far.

Preliminary investigations suggest the coal mine was operating illegally. Authorities have arrested one individual responsible for engaging the workers and filed charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The incident has drawn attention to the region’s unregulated mining activities, raising questions about worker safety and accountability. As rescue operations progress, officials remain hopeful of finding survivors, despite the formidable challenges posed by flooding and unstable ground conditions.