Body Recovered from Flooded Assam Coal Mine

Rescue teams have recovered the body of Ganga Bahadur Srestho, one of nine miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district. The body was found 85 feet below the surface after two days of intense rescue efforts hindered by high water levels, poor visibility, and the mine's depth, which reaches about 300 feet. The incident, which began on January 6 when water from an adjacent mine flooded the site, has raised concerns about illegal mining operations in the area. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed ongoing rescue operations involving the Army, Navy, and disaster response teams, while acknowledging the grim prospects for the remaining miners. One suspect linked to the illegal mining has been arrested, and investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the flooding. The situation underscores the dangers of rat-hole mining, which has been banned due to its hazardous nature but continues to occur in the region.