Final five bodies retrieved from flooded mine in India

The bodies of five miners who died in a flooded coal mine in India have been recovered. This follows a large-scale dewatering operation conducted by rescue workers.

These five miners were part of a group of nine miners trapped when the coal mine flooded on January 6th. The coal mine was constructed with narrow, man-made tunnels, and is known as a "rat-hole" mine.

In the early stages of the rescue operation, the bodies of four miners had already been recovered. After persistent efforts, the remains of the remaining five miners were finally found this Wednesday.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the news on social platform X, stating: "The remains of the remaining five miners have been recovered and brought out of the mine. Identification of the bodies has been initiated."

"Rat-hole" mining is illegal in India, but the practice persists in certain areas despite the ban.