Toll may cross hundred in Bengal mine mishap

Purulia, Aug 7 (UNI) The toll in the abandoned ECL mine mishap is likely to cross hundred, according to eyewitness claims.

CPI(M) MP Basudeb Acharia was camping at the site to coordinate the rescue of those trapped since Wednesday.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today expressed serious concern at the accident, which occurred at Gantiguri village, about 65 km from Purulia town and 250 km west of Kolkata on August 2.

''Mr Acharia is camping at the site to coordinate the rescue operation. The state government is also closely monitoring the situation,'' Mr Bhattacharjee told reporters at the Writers' Buildings.

West Bengal Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) president Ajit Prasad Mahato 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 in the incline 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 flushing out water from the mine, which was flooded by the Damodar's water.

The District Magistrate had also sought the 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.

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''.

Superintendent of Police Ashok Das informed UNI that the district authorities have sought the help of the Army to recover the bodies of the villagers, feared dead after being trapped for the past six days.

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