Assam: India rescuers race to save men stuck in flooded rat-hole mine

Nine men were trapped on Monday morning after water flooded the narrow hole manually dug to extract coal.

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Three of the nine men inside were feared dead, Reuters reported, after the state government said rescue teams had spotted some bodies they have been unable to reach.

The men were trapped on Monday morning after water flooded the so-called "rat-hole" mine, which is a narrow hole dug manually to extract coal.

Despite a ban on such mining in India since 2014, small illegal mines continue to be operational in Assam and other north-eastern states.

The Indian army, which is involved in the rescue efforts, said in a statement that its personnel had arrived at the site in the morning and were assisting the local administration.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yv1pl7vjpo

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