1,000 villagers being shifted from Raniganj Coalfields

Asansol, Jan 5 (UNI) At least 1,000 villagers, inhabiting the nearby areas of the Nimcha pit of the Raniganj area under the Eastern Coalfields Limited, are being shifted on a war footing following a devastating fire that erupted yesterday.

Asansol Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) B.Baidya said at least 10,000 villagers had been affected, of whom, about 1,000 were in the process of being shifted to the nearby Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL) campus.

Meanwhile, ECL officials visited the affected site, about 50 metres from the ECL power station.

Efforts were on to douse the flames, the SP added.

ECL chairman-cum-managing director Samarjit Chakraborty said a three-member committee had been formed to probe the causes of the fire in the Satgram and Nimcha coal pits of Raniganj.

The committee comprised the ECL General Manager of rescue, deputy mining engineer of safety and senior survey engineer.

At least one week would be required to douse the flames completely in Satgram and Nimcha, Mr Chakraborty informed.

Meanwhile, operations had been launched to check illegal mining activities in and around Jamuria and Raniganj, the SP added.

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