At least nine miners are trapped in a coal mine in Assam, a state in northeastern India, according to officials, reports AP.
The incident occurred on Monday morning in the Umrangso area of Dimapur Hasao district, located about 125 miles (200 kilometers) south of the state capital, Guwahati.
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The miners are believed to be stuck 300 feet underground after water from a nearby unused mine flooded the area. "We are mobilising resources to rescue them," said Kaushik Rai, a local government minister overseeing the rescue operation.
In response, authorities have deployed army personnel and a national disaster management team to assist in the ongoing rescue efforts.
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Workers at the site reported that more than a dozen miners had been trapped, with some managing to escape as the water from the adjacent unused mine started flooding the coal mine. The mine has minimal safety measures.
In the eastern and northeastern regions of India, miners often work in dangerous conditions in small "rat hole" mines, which are prevalent in the hilly areas. During extraction, coal is placed in boxes that are then lifted to the surface using pulleys.
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Accidents are common in illegal mining operations, where miners rely on the illicit sale of coal for their livelihoods.