At least three coal miners are trapped inside an illegal rat-hole mine in the Patkai hills of Tinsukia district, Assam, following a landslide, officials reported. The incident occurred around 12:30 am at the Tikok West mining site between Bargolai and Namdang, under the Tikok colliery in Ledo.

"Three coal miners are trapped inside the illegal rat-hole mine after the landslide in Patkai hills. Among those trapped is Dawa Cherpa from Bhojpur in Nepal, and two workers from Meghalaya, identified as John and Fenaal," a senior official from the district administration said.

In total, four workers were involved in procuring coal from the illegal mine. Three entered the mine while the fourth assisted in coal transportation. The sudden landslide trapped the three workers inside.

"It is suspected that they died inside the coal mine, but we cannot confirm until we recover their bodies," the official stated.

Rescue operations are currently underway, with multiple agencies called in to assist in the effort.