The Indian Army has launched a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation to evacuate miners who are trapped in a flooded coal mine in the 3 Kilo area of Dima Hasao, close to the Assam-Meghalaya border.
At 6:30 AM today the 32 Assam Rifles Pathfinder Unit arrived at the spot to begin its assessment as well as to supervise the operations. Due to such circumstances that characterized the situation, the Army sent an Engineer Task Force (ETF) led by the Commanding Officer of an Engineer Regiment together with PARA diving specialists who were well equipped to handle the task.
More ETF and Assam Rifles teams are also on the way to join the operation. Aerial resources available include a helicopter, with the state’s top officers such as the Chief Engineer of the Dimapur Corps HQ, the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (East), and the PARA unit’s Commanding Officer. This aerial reconnaissance will give live information to dictate subsequent procedures.
The operation which has been ordered by the Assam State Administration has several problems because the mine is situated in a very remote area and there is no infrastructure there. The continuation of the floods has confined about 15 to 20 miners in the mine. However, both the Army and local governments remain focused on the need to speed up rescue operations.
Earlier, the Indian Army had readied a relief task force in Umrangshu, Dima Hasao, for the rescue operation said an official press release.
Everything available is being employed in an attempt to safeguard the miners. The operation is an illustration of the Army’s commitment to undertaking humanitarian interventions in hard to access areas and the ability to respond to disasters. The rescuers are as well trying their best to reduce the risks and get the trapped miners out of the mine as soon as possible.
