Several miners trapped in coal mine in Assam

Several miners are feared trapped inside a coal mine in a remote area in Assam and the state has requested the army's assistance in rescue operations, authorities said on Monday.

As of Monday evening, rescue operations were under way, and authorities were "ascertaining the exact number of people trapped", Assam Director General of Police GP Singh told Reuters.

"As of now, the input indicates that numbers would be in single digits. The State Disaster Response Force has been pressed into service," he said.

The mine is in a remote area in Assam's hilly Dima Hasao district. Local media reported the miners were trapped by flooding.

"We have requested the Army's assistance in the ongoing rescue operation. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are also on their way to the incident site to aid in the efforts," Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on X.

The Dima Hasao SP and deputy commissioner were on their way to the spot.

SP Mayank Kumar Jha said the area was very "remote" and "difficult to reach".