Bodies Recovered from Assam Illegal Coal Mine

After a prolonged 44-day search, rescue teams have recovered the bodies of five miners trapped in a flooded illegal coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district. The operation involved multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force, the Indian Army, and the Indian Navy, and faced significant challenges due to the mine's remote and hilly terrain. Nine workers initially became trapped on January 6 when water flooded the 300-foot-deep mine; four bodies were retrieved earlier. The Assam government has announced compensation for the victims' families and initiated a judicial inquiry into the incident, headed by a retired high court judge. Despite a ban on 'rat-hole' mining since 2014, illegal operations persist in the region, prompting calls for stricter enforcement. The Gauhati High Court has taken cognizance of the issue, highlighting the need for accountability and better management of mining activities.