Water entered into ECL coal mines; workers evacuated safely

Asansol (West Bengal): The coal miners working at the Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL)’s Narsomuda here had a close shave on Saturday morning after water from an adjacent illegal coal mine started streaming fast into the mines. However, all the workers were quickly evacuated and there was no loss of life or injury reported in the incident. Meanwhile, operations at the mine have been suspended and it is uncertain when the mining operations would resume.

ECL sources said that several illegal mines have mushroomed recently in the Dighari area where the incident reported today. According to the reports, the continuous rainfall in the area resulted in the water-logging near the mines area and thus creating a vulnerable condition for the coal workers. When contacted manager Nandadulal Singh, said that this mishap happened because of the mushrooming of illegal miners in the locality adding the matter has been brought to the notice of Asansol- Durgapur Police Commissioner and the West Burdwan district magistrate.

“The source of the water was from one of the illegal coal mines. For the time being, we have kept the mining operations suspended,” he said. However, trade union leader and former Parliamentarian, Ramchandra Singh has held ECL authorities responsible for today's incident. “A section of the ECL officials are promoting these illegal mines, as a result of which such mishaps recur,” he alleged.