Assam CM Orders Judicial Probe Into Umrangso Coal Mine Tragedy, Imposes Blanket Ban on Rat-Hole Mining in State

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) will also be constituted to investigate the coal mine tragedy based on the FIR already registered.

Ten days after the tragic Umrangso coal mine tragedy, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today announced the formation of a Judicial Enquiry Commission to investigate the rat-hole mine tragedy that has killed 4 miners and 5 remain untraced till today.

The Assam Cabinet has decided to put a blanket ban on rat-hole mining in the state and set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

CM Sarma, briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting today said that the Judicial Enquiry Commission will be headed by Justice Anima Hazarika, former Judge of Gauhati High Court.

The commission will thoroughly investigate the incident and determine accountability for the tragedy.

Additionally, the SIT too will investigate the coal mine tragedy based on the FIR already registered. The SIT’s activities will be monitored by Justice Anima Hazarika, said CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

CM Sarma said that to prevent such incidents in the future, a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) will be created to enforce a blanket ban on rat-hole mining in the state of Assam.

Furthermore, the Mines and Minerals Department has been directed to collaborate with central agencies to close all existing rat hole mines in Assam.

The Cabinet has also announced Rs 10 lakh as ex gratia to the next of kin of the 4 deceased miners and Rs 10 lakh each to the next of kin of the 5 miners whether they are found alive or dead.

The incident happened on January 6 in a flooded rat-hole coal mine in Kalamati, Umrangso. So far 4 bodies have been recovered, while 5 miners are still trapped inside the rat-hole mine.

Earlier, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the rat-hole mine was declared abandoned 12 years ago by the Assam Mineral Development Corporation.

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