Three Miners Trapped in Assam's Illegal Rat-Hole Mine; Rescue Operations Underway Amid Claims of Administrative 'Collusion'

After a landslip in Assam's Patkai Hills, three miners—two from Meghalaya and one from Nepal—were trapped in an illicit rat-hole mine. While the miners were removing coal about 12:30 in the morning, the tragedy happened. Rat-hole mining is being done today even though the National Green Tribunal outlawed it in 2014 since it is such a dangerous activity. Though rescue efforts were in progress, the miners' whereabouts remained unknown. These kinds of deadly accidents are common in the Ledo-Margherita region, which is well-known for its coal seams. There have been accusations of administrative coordination with mining syndicates and that local government officials enabled illicit mining activities. Illegal mining persists despite constant requests for action, including those made by Congressman Pradyut Bordoloi. The circumstance brings to light the continuous dangers that miners face and the structural problems that allow such incidents to occur.