Rat-hole mining is a controversial and hazardous mining technique primarily employed in India for extracting coal deposits through confined passages. The term "rat-hole" refers to the narrow pits dug into the ground, typically large enough for one person to fit and extract coal. Miners descend using ropes or bamboo ladders to reach the bottom of the tiny holes, and the coal is then extracted manually using tools like pickaxes, shovels, and baskets. This technique has been used in the rescue operation of the collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand to manually drill through the remaining debris and clear the passage to reach the trapped workers
. It is important to note that rat-hole mining has been banned in India over safety concerns, as it poses significant safety hazards and is considered unscientific
