SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Feb 1: A youth died while another received a severe injury when a large chunk of coal fell on them during illegal mining in closed Raja Colliery open cast mines in Mugma Area of Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL) under Nirsa police station around 36 km away from district headquarters on Wednesday evening.
The deceased was identified as Shankar Bhuyan (26), a resident of Nirsa Kata Bhatta Colony, while Rohit (27), a resident of Sindri Colony, was injured in the incident and was admitted to a private hospital.
Local police and Mugma Colliery officials have not confirmed the illegal mining incident.
However, former Nirsa MLA Arup Chatterjee, who got into rescue operations after getting information at night, said that illegal mining was being done in closed mines.
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Nirsa North Panchayat chief Dinesh Singh said the incident occurred between 8 pm and 8.30 pm. More than a dozen people were engaged in illegal mining by creating a tunnel. All of a sudden, a large chunk of stone and clay fell on them.
“After getting information, Nirsa police and Mugma Colliery Area were informed of rescue work. Former MLA Arup Chatterjee was also informed when they did not take notice. Local people, with the help of CISF, used JCB for removing debris under which the body of Shankar Bhuyan was found”, said Dinesh Singh, Panchayat chief.
Nirsa police station officer-in-charge Dilip Kumar Yadav said a team had been sent to probe the incident. Sri Anand, general manager of the Mugma Colliery Area of ECL, has yet to receive a call.
Colliery’s official sources said that the outsourcing company had been mining in these open cast mines, but it has stopped operation for the last two months.
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