Coal mine fire in West Bengal village triggers panic

Nimcha (West Bengal), Mar 27 : A fire that has been raging at a coal mine in West Bengal's Burdwan District for the past two days, has spread panic among the locals.

Residents of Nimcha village say officials have done nothing to stop it, and are only interested in making money from legal and illegal mines.

Naba Kumar Mishra, a Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) leader claimed that no thought is being given to saving the lives of villagers.

The Eastern Coalfields Limited, which runs the mine, said there is no danger to the village.

"We are not aware of the exact location of the fire or where illegal mining is taking place. When the flames appear, we douse it with water," claimed K.P. Singh, General Manager of the Eastern Coalfields Limited.

Experts blame the fires on unscientific mining and on the illegal extraction of coal. They warn that it is an environmental disaster waiting to happen.

ANI