12 workers are trapped inside a flooded coal mine in India

Indian police announced that 12 workers were stuck in a coal mine flooded in the northeastern state of Assam.

The police chief in the region, Mayank Jha, said, “The coal mine is located in a very remote place,” noting that it had been exposed to floods, and that many workers were surprised by the rise in water levels in Umrangshu, located in the Dima Hasao region.

Rescue teams and the army intervene

Residents reported that at least 27 workers entered the mine Monday morning, and several of them were able to leave as water began to leak.

Local authorities requested the intervention of government rescue teams and the army.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “There is bad news from Umrangshu, where workers are stuck in a coal mine,” noting that the number of trapped miners is unknown.

Giving up fossil fuels

Power plants in India rely on coal to generate 70% of electricity.

The Indian government asserts that the country, which has 1.4 billion people, cannot dispense with fossil fuels due to its increasing energy needs and high poverty rates.