Guwahati, Jan 9: Rescue operations at the “3 Kilo” coal mine in Umrongso, Assam’s Dima Hasao district, have entered their third day, but despite relentless efforts, there is still no sign of the trapped miners, whether dead or alive.

A 35-member team from the 1st Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are leading the mission, assisted by the Indian Army, Navy, Assam Rifles, and Fire and Emergency Services. The complex operation is being further complicated by an ever-increasing water level in the mine, which has so far thwarted all attempts to locate the miners.

The Indian Navy has brought in sonar equipment to aid in the search, while NDRF personnel are conducting deep-diving operations, but the mine remains largely submerged. On Thursday, the focus shifted to dewatering the site, with heavy-duty motor pumps provided by ONGC Silchar. However, despite their best efforts, over 70 feet of water still fills the mine shaft, and the water level continues to rise, further hindering the search.

“We are doing everything we can,” said an official from Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). “Tomorrow, we will deploy a heavy suction pump to speed up the dewatering process.”

NDRF Inspector Roshan Kumar Singh spoke candidly about the difficulties the team is facing. “We’ve thoroughly searched the vertical area of the mine, but so far, we’ve found nothing. The water is still flowing in, and instead of decreasing, the level keeps rising. It’s making the operation extremely difficult.”

The rescue teams are working under extreme conditions, battling both the physical dangers of the mine and the persistent flooding. Despite the setbacks, Singh emphasized the strength of the collaboration between various teams—NDRF, Navy, Army—and their shared commitment to saving lives.

“This is a joint operation, and we’re all in it together, but the flooding remains a critical challenge,” he added. “We’re doing everything possible, but time is not on our side.”

As the operation progresses, the priority is on removing as much water as possible. The rescuers remain hopeful that the deployment of advanced suction pumps will allow them to lower the water levels enough to continue the search. But with each passing hour, the situation grows more urgent.

The flooding in the mine has become the mission’s greatest obstacle, emphasizing the dire need for innovative solutions and continued, coordinated efforts to bring a successful resolution to this life-or-death operation.

Read: KHADC to hold ‘Dorbar Iktiar Paitbah’ on January 18 to honour local bodies

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