Thu Feb 20 02:15:17 UTC 2025: ## All Nine Bodies Recovered from Flooded Assam Coal Mine After 44-Day Search
**Dima Hasao, Assam –** The grueling 44-day search for nine miners trapped in a flooded illegal coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district has concluded with the recovery of five more bodies. The bodies were retrieved from the 310-foot deep 3 Kilo Coal Quarry in Umrangso, which was inundated on January 6th. The recovery brings the total number of deceased miners to nine, all of whom are now accounted for.
Earlier recovery efforts, involving Navy divers and other rescue teams, had already recovered four bodies; one on January 8th and three more three days later. The Assam government has provided compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each of the victims.
The illegal “rat-hole” mine, abandoned 12 years ago according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, presented significant challenges to rescuers due to its complex network of tunnels branching from the main shaft. The lack of a blueprint further hampered the operation.
A judicial inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident.
First Piper 