Operation on to rescue 56 trapped miners in Dhanbad

Dhanbad, Sep 7 (UNI) None of the 56 victims, who were trapped inside the Bhat-Dih mines of Nagda Colliery of BCCL, could be recovered so far even as a rescue team was fighting emission of toxic gas triggered by huge explosion inside the pit last night.

With the fate of the trapped victims teetering towards uncertainty, Union Coal Minister Shibu Soren, who rushed to the accident site, announced Rs three lakh each as compensation to the families of the deceased besides assurance of a job to a member from each of the bereaved families.

Mr Soren said a judicial inquiry would be conducted to find the reason leading to the disaster.

Earlier, Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda after attending a programme on centenary celebration of Vande Mataram in the state capital, said the government would bear the expenses of treatment and announced Rs one lakh to next of the kin of the deceased.

Since the accident took place last night, the panic-stricken authorities have been constantly trying to establish contact with them but were not successful this evening.

The rescue team comprising experts from Central Coalfield Limited, BCCL and Central Industrial Security Force swung into action, senior offcial sources told UNI over phone adding the constant emission of toxic gases rendered the site, where the miners remained trapped, nearly inaccessible.

''Fire might continue to rage as it was full of gas,'' the sources said, adding the four miners who managed to come out last night had burn injuries and have been admitted to hospital.

At about 2000 hours yesterday, after a detonation near one of the walls inside, water entered the mine and flooded it.

UNI PRS KK AK RN1928