Church forums seek probe into Assam mining tragedy, recall similar incident from M’laya

SHILLONG, Jan 9: Church forums in Assam have called on the state government to initiate an independent inquiry into the recent mining tragedy at Umrangso, Dima Hasao district, while recalling the horrors of a similar incident from 2018 in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills.
In a statement, Allen Brooks, spokesperson for the Assam Christian Forum and the United Christian Forum, emphasised the necessity of an independent investigation to deliver justice to the victims and prevent such incidents in the future.
“Given the severity of the Umrangso incident and the apparent administrative lapses, there is a compelling case for an independent inquiry. Such an investigation should aim to identify and prosecute individuals and organizations complicit in allowing illegal mining operations to persist,” he said.
Brooks added that holding those responsible accountable is vital to preventing further tragedies and upholding the rule of law.
He also highlighted the dangers of illegal rat-hole mining, which has resurfaced with the recent tragedy.
Referring to the Umrangso mining incident, he said nine miners, according to local estimates, were trapped in a flooded coal mine after water from an adjacent unused mine inundated the site.
Brooks also said that rescue efforts are under way, with teams from the Indian Army, Navy, NDRF, Coal India, and other agencies deploying cranes, divers and engineers to assist local authorities.
As of January 9, one body had been recovered, and operations are continuing to locate the remaining miners.
The Umrangso mining disaster serves as a tragic reminder of the human cost of illegal mining and regulatory failure,” the spokesperson said.
He explained that rat-hole mining, which involves extracting coal through narrow tunnels less than four feet in diameter, poses significant safety and environmental risks.
Despite a 2014 ban by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), this practice, Brooks rued, persists in Northeastern states like Assam and Meghalaya due to economic hardships and unemployment.
He also drew parallels with a similar tragedy in December 2018 in Meghalaya, where 15 miners lost their lives in a flooded mine.
According to him, such incidents highlight the urgent need for stricter enforcement of mining regulations and greater accountability among local authorities.
Brooks then criticised the systemic failures within administrative and enforcement agencies. “The fact that such activities occur openly indicates possible collusion or negligence among officials responsible for regulating mining activities,” he added.