200 feared dead in abondoned coal mine in Bengal

Purulia, Aug 7 (UNI) At least 200 people, who have been trapped in an ECL abondoned mine since August 2, are feared dead, official sources and eye witnesses today said.

President of West Bengal's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Ajit Prasad Mahato claimed that not less than 200 people were feared killed in the mine accident.

District Magistrate of Purilia Debabrata Bandhopadhay said a police team led by Officer-Incharge of Neturia Sadhan Pathak arrived at the site of Gantikuli for rescue operation last night.

He already arranged some pumps and generators for dewatering the mine, which was flooded by river Damodar's water.

The DM also sought Army help for rescue operation.

Meanwhile, two army officers, visited the site last night to oversee the rescue operation.

Earlier, a team from ECL made an abortive attempt to rescue the trapped people, who went inside the pit on August 2 for digging coal.

Earlier, Union Coal minister Sibu Soren, who could not visit the site said in Asansol that the task of rescuing the trapped villagers was almost an impossible task.

CPI(M) MP Basudeb Acharrya visited the site and appealed to the district authorities of Purulia to rescue the villagers.

Superintendent of Police Ashok Das informed UNI that the district authorites sought the help of army to recover the bodies of the villagers, feared dead after being trapped for the last six days.

The accdient site is Gantiguri village, about 65 kms from Purulia town and 250 kms west of Kolkata.

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