Rescue Efforts in Assam’s Rat-Hole Coal Mine

Sub: Geo

Sec : Eco Geo

Why in News

Eight miners have been trapped inside a rat-hole coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district. Rescue operations face significant challenges due to stagnant and murky water levels.

Incident:

The coal mine is located in the Kalamati area near the Meghalaya border, about 30 km from Umrangso and 110 km from Haflong, the district headquarters.
The mine is a rat-hole coal mine, characterized by narrow tunnels making it difficult for divers to navigate with equipment.
Stubborn Water Levels: Water level in the 90-metre pit remains constant at 29 metres, despite continuous pumping. Connection to an external water source (possibly a nearby reservoir or the Kopili River) is suspected.
Equipment Limitations: Air tanks and gear cannot navigate the mine’s narrow branches.

What is Rat hole mining:

It is a method of extracting coal from narrow, horizontal seams, prevalent in Meghalaya.
The term “rat hole” refers to the narrow pits dug into the ground, typically just large enough for one person to descend and extract coal.
Once the pits are dug, miners descend using ropes or bamboo ladders to reach the coal seams.
The coal is then manually extracted using primitive tools such as pickaxes, shovels, and baskets.

Kopili River:

The Kopili River originates from the Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, near Umsawnongkharai.
Drainage Basin: Lies primarily in Meghalaya and Assam.
Major Tributaries:
- Umrang
- Langkri
Flows through Meghalaya and enters Assam, forming part of the boundary between Dima Hasao and West Jaintia Hills. Joins the Brahmaputra River as a tributary.
Runs through key districts such as Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, and Dima Hasao in Assam.
Houses the Kopili Hydroelectric Project, a significant energy source in the region. The dam is operated by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO).

Based on the Geological Survey of India’s (GSI), coalfields in the northeastern region of India:

State	Coalfield	Description
Assam	Singrimari	Contains coal resources estimated at 14.49 million tonnes.
	Makum	One of the primary coalfields in Assam, with reserves of 452.79 million tonnes.
	Dilli-Jeypore	Holds coal resources totaling 54.02 million tonnes.
	Mikir Hills	Contains coal reserves of 3.71 million tonnes.
Sikkim	Rangit Valley	Houses coal resources amounting to 101.23 million tonnes.
Arunachal Pradesh	Namchik-Namphuk	Contains coal reserves of 84.23 million tonnes.
	Miao Bum	Holds coal resources totaling 6.00 million tonnes.
Meghalaya	Balphakram-Pendenguru	Contains coal resources estimated at 107.03 million tonnes.
	Siju	Holds coal reserves of 125.00 million tonnes.
	Mawlong-Shella	Contains coal resources totaling 6.00 million tonnes.
	Bapung	Holds coal reserves of 33.66 million tonnes.
	Jayanti Hills	Contains coal resources amounting to 2.34 million tonnes.
	West Daranggiri	Holds coal reserves of 125.00 million tonnes.
	East Daranggiri	Contains coal resources totaling 34.19 million tonnes.
	Langrin	Holds coal reserves of 133.16 million tonnes.
	Khasi Hills	Contains coal resources amounting to 10.10 million tonnes.
Nagaland	Borjan	Holds coal reserves of 10.00 million tonnes.
	Jhanzi-Disai	Contains coal resources totaling 97.12 million tonnes.
	Tuen Sang	Holds coal reserves of 3.26 million tonnes.
	Tiru Valley	Contains coal resources amounting to 6.60 million tonnes.
	DGM Area	Holds coal reserves totaling 293.47 million tonnes.