At least seven workers have been killed and several others injured in a severe blast on Monday at a coal mine owned by a private entity in West Bengal’s Birbhum district. The West Bengal government announced compensation for the families, whose kin have died in today’s accident.
State Chief Secretary Manoj Pant said, “The incident is unfortunate. There is loss of livelihood for the families. There is no compensation for the losses but in order to support them, Rs 30 lakh compensation will be given to the families and Rs 2 lakh for the accidental death. One family member will get a job as a home guard from the state government.”
According to sources, many of the workers were extremely critical and were shifted to a local hospital and they are undergoing treatment there.”
Eyewitnesses said that bodies of some of the miners were blown into pieces following the blast.
Initial investigation suggests that the blasts necessary for coal excavation were done in a lackadaisical manner without following the necessary safety measures that resulted in the mishap, said an administrative official engaged in rescue operations.
A huge police contingent has also arrived at the sport to keep the tension over the development under control. Identification of those killed in the blast is yet to be made. The local people have claimed that the higher management officials went away from that place after the blast took place instead of taking the responsibility.
Expressing condolences to the families, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari wrote in his X Handle, “Seven people including four Tribals have lost their lives and several others have been injured in a coal mine blast in Birbhum district. The incident happened this morning in Gangaramchak Mining Pvt Ltd Colliery in the Bhadulia village area of Khayrasole Block, under the Lokpur PS in Birbhum district.”
“…The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is already investigating a case related to 81,000 thousand gelatin sticks and detonators that were recovered from the adjacent Mohammad Bazar area of Birbhum district. Any connection between the two should also be probed in order to rule out any foul play. There are proper SOPs for such life threatening risky jobs and meticulous adherence is a must. Authorities should be extra careful regarding compliance, so that such incidents can be avoided in the future,” Adhikari wrote.
“It should be seen if the coalmine was operating legally. It should be seen if explosives were brought without maintaining norms,” Moloy Mukherjee, Trinamool District Vice-President said.
State Chief Secretary Manoj Pant said, “The incident is unfortunate. There is loss of livelihood for the families. There is no compensation for the losses but in order to support them, Rs 30 lakh compensation will be given to the families and Rs 2 lakh for the accidental death. One family member will get a job as a home guard from the state government.”
According to sources, many of the workers were extremely critical and were shifted to a local hospital and they are undergoing treatment there.”
Eyewitnesses said that bodies of some of the miners were blown into pieces following the blast.
Initial investigation suggests that the blasts necessary for coal excavation were done in a lackadaisical manner without following the necessary safety measures that resulted in the mishap, said an administrative official engaged in rescue operations.
A huge police contingent has also arrived at the sport to keep the tension over the development under control. Identification of those killed in the blast is yet to be made. The local people have claimed that the higher management officials went away from that place after the blast took place instead of taking the responsibility.
Expressing condolences to the families, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari wrote in his X Handle, “Seven people including four Tribals have lost their lives and several others have been injured in a coal mine blast in Birbhum district. The incident happened this morning in Gangaramchak Mining Pvt Ltd Colliery in the Bhadulia village area of Khayrasole Block, under the Lokpur PS in Birbhum district.”
“…The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is already investigating a case related to 81,000 thousand gelatin sticks and detonators that were recovered from the adjacent Mohammad Bazar area of Birbhum district. Any connection between the two should also be probed in order to rule out any foul play. There are proper SOPs for such life threatening risky jobs and meticulous adherence is a must. Authorities should be extra careful regarding compliance, so that such incidents can be avoided in the future,” Adhikari wrote.
“It should be seen if the coalmine was operating legally. It should be seen if explosives were brought without maintaining norms,” Moloy Mukherjee, Trinamool District Vice-President said.
