Mission Raniganj

During a 1989 shift at Raniganj Coalfields, a blast opens new coal veins in one section of the mine. Soon after, water begins to leak from the shaft, signaling a grave flood risk. The mine is divided into three sections, setting the stage for a high-stakes rescue.

An evacuation is ordered, but the Behra section cannot hear the signal due to deafness. As a result, most of the 200+ miners are evacuated while the 60+ Behra miners remain trapped, and six miners drown attempting to escape. The situation becomes a race against time.

Jaswant Singh Gill, a manager from a nearby mine, notices the approaching rescue vehicles and offers his expertise. He faces stiff resistance from others who believe the miners are already dead and that a rescue is futile. The head of the flooded mine, Ujjwal, requests Gill’s help and leadership.

Gill brings in Tapan Ghosh, a disgraced surveyor, and Bindal, a drilling engineer, to map the highest point of the mine. They plan to drill an 8-inch borehole and place a flashlight as a beacon. The team hopes this channel will deliver food, water, and communications to the trapped miners.

From the identified point, the team begins drilling an 8-inch borehole and places a flashlight as a beacon. Unbeknownst to them, a brick wall blocks the path to the beacon, and the miners cannot see the signal. The operation persists despite the setback as the rescue team presses on.

Sen, representing Coal India, pushes for a shortcut through a breached closed mineshaft, ignoring Gill’s warning about heavy flooding. His team uncovers the bodies of six miners who drowned, causing the rescue to pause and reassess. The attempt fuels doubt and delays the critical effort.

A miner’s dog barks at Gill, signaling that the trapped miners are alive and that the rescue must continue. This moment shifts the operation from abandonment to persistence. The team redoubles its efforts to reach the surface.

The 8-inch borehole becomes a lifeline, delivering food, water, medicines, and a communications link to the miners. A Davy lamp helps the rescuers assess gas buildup and the miners monitor their environment. The surface team maintains contact to coordinate the ongoing extraction.

Miners discover through a Davy lamp that the shaft is filling with carbon dioxide as water and gas converge toward them. The dangerous gas presence heightens the urgency to lift people out before oxygen runs out. Rescue plans are adjusted to account for the evolving hazard.

Gill devises a 29-inch capsule to lift miners one by one through a larger borehole. Sen sabotages the effort by removing key crane components, slowing the ascent. The rescue crew scrambles to repair gear and keep the operation moving.

With about 48 hours of oxygen remaining, the team switches to manual winching to extract miners. The operation saves most lives, though the clock remains a constant pressure. The miners' survival hinges on precise timing and teamwork.

Govardhan, the local MLA and union leader, confronts Sen and extracts an admission of deliberate sabotage. Under pressure, the crane is fixed and deployed for the rescue. Gill briefly blacks out from oxygen deprivation but signals the lift using a hammer.

Gill is the final miner to be pulled from the mine, showcasing leadership under extreme oxygen loss. He receives a Rs. 1 lakh cheque and an immediate promotion as recognition for his role. The disgraced surveyor is vindicated and paid his missing wages.