Assam rat-hole mine tragedy: Dying for black gold

On January 6, 205, a rat-hole mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district was flooded, trapping nine men. More than 10 days after the incident, only four bodies have been retrieved. Though banned, rat-hole mining, which is dangerous but lucrative, continues unabated in Assam and Meghalaya. Rahul Karmakar reports on the incident and the prevalent practice that provides livelihoods while claiming lives