3 Believed Dead as Rescue Workers Race to Save 9 Men Trapped in Flooded Coal Mine: Reports

Mar. 15, 2025

Three people are believed to have died after their group of nine men became trapped in a coal mine in India’s Assam state, according to multiple news reports.

According to theBBC, the men became trapped when the mine they were working on was flooded with water.

Local authorities said that the three bodies had not yet been recovered, according to Reuters.

Divers entering the coal mine in Assam on January 7, 2025.AFP via Getty

AFP via Getty

The nine men reportedly became trapped on Monday, Jan. 6, in the district of Dima Hasao, with divers, engineers and helicopters from the Indian army working together in the rescue operation.

“Senior officials of the Indian army will also be reaching the site to coordinate with the civil administration,” a military spokesperson told the BBC,

The spokesperson added that the rescue units included “divers, sappers, medical staff and necessary equipment.”

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Divers entering the flooded coal mine in Assam on January 7, 2025.AFP via Getty

“Navy deep divers have been requisitioned to assist in the rescue operation,” Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam,posted on X.

“Deep divers from the Army are also at the site and have entered the mine as part of their rescue mission,” Sarma added.

The coal mine were nine workers are trapped in Assam.Indian Army via AP

Indian Army via AP

“The well is about 150 feet deep, of which almost a hundred feet is filled with water,” Rai said to Reuters. “Three teams have attempted to enter it since morning and have managed to go as far as 30 to 35 feet.”

“They [the miners] probably hit some water channel and water came out and flooded it,” Mayank Kumar, district police chief in Dima Hasao, told Reuters.

In official photos, rescuers were seen equipped with ropes, cranes and other tools while entering the entrance to the mine.

PEOPLE has contacted Dima Hasao police for additional comment but did not immediately receive a response.

source: people.com