On Thursday night, a coal mine in Jharkhand collapsed in Lalmatia region. An estimated 40 to 50 members are feared to be trapped in the mine. This incident happened after a heap of mud collapsed at the entry to the mines of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) in Godda district. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) said, apart from the trapped there were also 40 vehicles inside the mine when the cave in happened at the Rajmahal Open Cast Mines site.
Those injured in the cave in were rushed to the hospital. CISF said that the rescue operation started in the morning. The dense fog in the night caused a hindrance. The cave in caused a disruption in the electric supply to the site.
Jharkhand mine collapse: CM Raghubar Das monitoring situation closely, asks concerned officials to intensify rescue operations.
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
National Disaster Relief Team (NDRF) teams reached from Patna to the spot of disaster. A total of two inspectors, 21 CISF personnel have been dispatched to the site. The Godda Superintendent of Police, Harilal Chauhan said, “The exact count of people and vehicles trapped inside cannot be said with certainty. This could only become clear after the rescue operation starts.”
The mine is estimated 200 feet deep. The collapse happened after a crack was formed in the mud. The air trapped in the crack caused the mud to collapse at the entry of the mine.
