**Title:** Assam Government Faces Pressure to Release Umrangso Mine Report
**Meta Description:** Calls grow for the Assam government to disclose the judicial report on the Umrangso coal mine tragedy, six months after nine workers lost their lives.
**URL Slug:** assam-umrangso-mine-tragedy-report
**Headline:** Assam Under Pressure to Disclose Judicial Report on Umrangso Coal Mine Tragedy
The Assam government is facing increasing pressure to publicly release the judicial inquiry report regarding the Umrangso coal mine tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of nine workers in a flooded illegal mine in Dima Hasao district. This tragic incident occurred on January 6, 2025, and prompted a significant 44-day rescue operation involving the Indian Navy and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). All nine bodies were recovered by February 19.
In response to the tragedy, the state government established a judicial commission led by retired Gauhati High Court judge Justice Anima Hazarika. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had previously assured that the commission would submit its findings within three months. However, six months later, the report remains undisclosed, igniting fresh outrage among local communities and human rights organizations.
Daniel Langthasa, convenor of the Sixth Schedule Protection Committee and a former member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), criticized the government for the delay. “The commission was given three months. Six months have passed, but the government has not shared the report. There is no update, and those responsible for the illegal mining that caused this tragedy are yet to be punished,” he stated.
Despite a ban on rat-hole mining imposed by the National Green Tribunal in 2014, this dangerous and outdated mining method continues to operate unchecked in Umrangso. A survey conducted after the tragedy revealed at least 220 illegal rat-hole coal mines in the area. Langthasa questioned the oversight of the BJP-ruled NCHAC, asking, “How could the council be unaware of 220 mines? This is blatant negligence, if not complicity.”
To date, only one individual, Punish Nunisa, has been arrested in connection with the case, raising concerns among activists who fear he may be a scapegoat. They argue that a larger network of illegal mining operators remains unaddressed. Although the Chief Minister had announced plans to identify and shut down all illegal mines with assistance from central agencies, locals report minimal changes on the ground. “There is no visible action. Illegal mining continues. The government must act,” Langthasa emphasized.
He also linked the illegal mining activities to broader law and order issues in the insurgency-affected district, highlighting a rise in kidnappings, mysterious deaths, and drug abuse. Langthasa accused the NCHAC of failing to protect tribal land and allowing the unauthorized transfer of protected land to private coke plant operators without village council approval.
Describing the situation as a “social crisis,” Langthasa warned of long-term repercussions. “People commit crimes when they lose hope in those in power,” he cautioned, urging the government to make the commission’s report public, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure justice for the victims’ families.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What happened in the Umrangso coal mine tragedy?**
A: On January 6, 2025, nine workers died in a flooded illegal coal mine in Dima Hasao district, Assam, leading to a large-scale rescue operation and subsequent judicial inquiry.
