Bengal Coal Mine Rescue: 12 Workers Freed After Overnight Operation

Late Monday, twelve coal workers became trapped in a mine in Pandaveswar, West Bardhaman district, West Bengal. By early Tuesday morning, after a full night of rescue work, all of them had been safely removed.

The operation was completed around 5:30 am on Tuesday. BJP MLA Jitendra Tiwari, who represents Pandaveswar, confirmed that all 12 workers are stable.

The incident took place at a depth of roughly 200 feet in the Kumardihi area. As news spread, tension rose in the locality, and families and residents grew anxious about the fate of those inside.

Sources said mine officials first tried to rescue the workers on their own, but those attempts failed. The situation then became more difficult, and officials said bringing the men out safely was the most significant challenge. A wide-scale rescue operation was quickly started.

To keep the trapped workers safe, rescuers stayed in touch with them through walkie-talkies. Water and dry food were lowered to them so they would remain healthy during the long wait underground.

A mine official explained that communication with the workers and their extraction had to be managed together throughout the night. Close coordination between the teams was key, he said, adding that the combined effort ensured the safe rescue of all 12 miners.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered constant monitoring of the rescue. District officials in West Bardhaman were asked to keep a watch on the situation. Ankita Agarwal, Durgapur Sub-Divisional Magistrate, and Dr. Pranab Kumar, Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissioner, reached the site.

MLA Tiwari was also present to help with the operation. The rescue continued overnight through the joint work of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, the West Bengal Disaster Management Department and mine authorities.