Rat-hole mining poses significant safety and environmental hazards. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned the practice in 2014, and retained the ban in 2015

"Several people feared trapped inside a coal mine in the Umrangso area in the Dima Hasao district. We can't say the exact figure as of now," Dima Hasao Superintendent of Police (SP) Mayank Kumar Jha told ANI.

In response to an urgent call for assistance by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Indian Army on January 6, mobilized a specialized Relief Task Force to rescue miners trapped in Umrangso,

Several workers are feared trapped inside a 'rat hole' coal mine after water entered into the 300-foot-deep quarry in the Dima Hasao district of Assam. The illegal mine is located in Umrangso, a remote industrial town near the Meghalaya border,

Officials said that since the location of the mine is in a remote area and not easily accessible, it is still not clear how many people are inside and what’s their condition