Death toll may cross a hundred in mine mishap

Purulia, Aug 7 (UNI) The death toll in abandoned ECL mine mishap at Gantiguri village near here might cross three digit figure as people trapped since Wednesday were yet to be rescued, eye witnesses said today.

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

Kapil Yadav of Sakratoria village, who digs coal from the pit, said over 200 people were inside when the accident occurred.

Another Balaram Kabi of Hizolgarh, a nearby village of the accident site, expressed similar apprehension.

District Magistrate of Purilia Debabrata Bandhopadhay said a police team led by Officer-Incharge of Neturia Sadhan Pathak was supervising the rescue operation. He had already arranged some pumps and generators for dewatering the mine, which was flooded by river Damodar's water.

The DM has also sought Army help for rescue operation.

Meanwhile, two army officers, visited the site last night to have a first hand information.

Earlier, a team from ECL made an abortive attempt to rescue the trapped people.

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.

UNI XC SP PC/src1255