Jharkhand mine collapse: 4 bodies recovered , At Least 20 Trapped
GODDA (Jharkhand) : In a horrific incident, a coal mine caved-in in Jharkhand on Thursday night, trapping several people and vehicles. Rescue teams have recovered four bodies till now. According to Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, the chairman-cum-managing director of Western Coalfields Ltd and Eastern Coalfields Ltd, one more body is visible and will be taken out soon.
“Land collapsed at the mine in Godda district at around 7.30 pm last night when excavators and tippers were working there. Rescue operations were launched immediately.He said at least three excavators and seven tippers were among those trapped, adding that nothing could be said immediately about the fate of the workers until the debris is removed.
Unofficial sources, however, said that it could be anywhere between 10 to 15 persons.He said that rescue operations were on in full swing. Director General of Mines Safety and higher officials of CCL were there to supervise the rescue operation, Mishra said, adding that he is also rushing to the site.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das is monitoring the situation closely and has asked the concerned officials to intensify rescue operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the Jharkhand CM about the incident. On Twitter, the PM said: “Saddened by the loss of lives at a mine in Jharkhand. My prayers are with those trapped inside. Spoke to CM Raghubar Das on the situation.”
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines Piyush Goyal said he was taking stock of the situation. Rescue efforts are underway and an inquiry has been initiated, added Goyal. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team reached around 11 am from Patna.
The local police and administration were involved in the rescue operation. As per police, a heap of mud caved in at the entry point of Latmatia mines of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) in Godda district. At the time of the cave-in at the Rajmahal Open Cast Mines of Paharia Bhorya site, more than 40 vehicles were inside, reported news agency IANS.
The locals said that there was a crack in the heap of mud which collapsed and blocked the entry point of the mine. Mining operations were taking place about 200 feet beneath the ground.
According to police official RK Mallik 23 people are missing, said though mine officials said they believe about 10 people remain trapped Emergency workers are using mechanical diggers to rescue those trapped in the debris.
“We are trying to make contact with them. We cannot comment whether they are trapped inside the mine or under the debris,” Niladri Roy, general manager Eastern Coalfields Limited, told news agency Mr Roy said a section of the roof is suspected to have collapsed as the workers headed towards the exit gate around 7:30 pm. There was no immediate explanation for the collapse. Jharkhand is one of the richest mineral zones in India, some 29 percent of the country’s coal deposits present in the impoverished state.
