By Mevlut Ozkan
ISTANBUL (AA) - Rescuers in India’s northeastern Assam state struggled for a fourth day Thursday to save eight workers trapped in a flooded coal mine.
Indian army and paramilitary forces joined the efforts and helped retrieve one body from the 300-foot-deep mine located in Umrangso, a remote industrial town in Dima Hasao district.
All efforts are being made in close coordination with the civil administration, including the deployment of navy deep divers to assist with the rescue operation, according to officials.
The laborers became trapped after the mine flooded.
The Assam government is facing criticism from both the public opposition parties.
Opposition parties condemned the government over the mining tragedy, blaming "utter negligence" and calling for a judicial inquiry into the incident, according to the Press Trust of India.
Left-wing groups staged a joint protest in the city of Guwahati in Assam, calling for strict action against the offenders.