In Assam's Dima Hasao district, the head worker, or 'sardar,' of a coal mine where eight miners remain trapped, was arrested while efforts to remove water from the flooded quarry continue to facilitate rescue operations, police said on Friday.
The situation for the trapped miners looks grim, with rescue teams racing against time. So far, one body, identified as a labourer from Nepal, has been recovered from the mine.
The arrested 'sardar,' Hanan Laskar, had fled the site after the incident on January 6 and was caught on Thursday night after an extensive search. This marks the second arrest in the case, following the earlier detention of Punish Nunisa, the quarry lease-holder.
The miners were trapped on Monday at the 3-Kilo Coal Quarry in Umrangso, about 250 km from Guwahati, when a sudden gush of water flooded the site. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the mine appears to be illegal, and a case has been registered.
Rescue teams are working to dewater the 340-foot-deep quarry using specialized machines from ONGC and Coal India. Once enough water is removed, navy and army divers will resume their search for the trapped miners.
Personnel from the navy, army, Assam Rifles, NDRF, SDRF, and local administration are actively engaged in the rescue efforts at the site.
Also Read: On day 4, deep divers and heavy pumps join Assam mine rescue
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