Jharkhand Coal Mine Collapse: 18 Bodies Recovered, Probe On

Eighteen bodies have been recovered from the debris following a coal mine collapse in Lal Matia area of Godda district in Jharkhand late on Thursday night, while at least 30 workers are feared trapped. Thirteen excavators and dump trucks have also been extracted. The mine is run by the Eastern Coalfields Limited.

Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal says rescue efforts are underway and an enquiry has been set up. Four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Patna, and one from Ranchi are enroute to the collapse site.

Despite dense fog in the area, rescue operations [are] underway. We are carrying on [them] on in a systematic manner so that the situation does not aggravate as the debris is too much and it should not fall.

R R Mishra, officiating CMD of ECL, a Coal India subsidiary

According to police, the incident occurred during the shift change late in the evening, at the Paharia Bhorya site of the Rajmahal Open Cast Mines project.

• A coal mine collapsed in Godda district in Jharkhand on Thursday night.
  
• Seventeen bodies have been recovered so far in the rescue operations, while at least 30 workers are feared trapped.
  
• A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the collapse.
  
• Rescue operations could not begin at night because of heavy smog.
  
• Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das announced Rs 2 lakh for the deceased and Rs 25,000 for the injured.
  

Committee to Investigate Cause of the Collapse

A high-level committee of experts constituted by Coal India Ltd will investigate the cause of mine collapse.

The enquiry has been ordered by the Director General of Mines Safety, says Coal Ministry.

The Eastern Coalfields said its Chairman-cum-Managing Director and director personnel were on their way to the accident site.

Niladri Roy, General Manager, Eastern Coalfields Limited said a section of the roof is suspected to have collapsed as the workers headed towards the exit gate around 7:30 pm, reports NDTV. There was no immediate explanation for the collapse.

PM Speaks to Jharkhand CM; Enquires About Situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and enquired about the mine collapse.

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.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2016

Das has announced Rs 2 lakh for the deceased and Rs 25,000 for the injured. He is monitoring the situation closely and has asked concerned officials to intensify rescue operations. “All senior officials have been asked to stay at the site,” he said on twitter.

Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter after the incident on Thursday night to announce that authorities are working towards relief operations.

Jharkhand Government & Minister @PiyushGoyal are working to restore normalcy. @NDRFHQ has been engaged for rescue & relief operations.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2016

Heavy smog at night prevented rescue workers from entering the mine until early this morning, an official said.