Coal mine mishaps raise safety questions; toll touches three

Guwahati, Nov 9 (UNI) Two coal mine explosions, resulting in three deaths, within a span of four days at the Coal India Ltd-operated Lachit colliery in eastern Assam's Tinsukia district's Ledo has risen questions of safety of the mines, with the director general of Mine Safety ordering an enquiry into the incidents and closing down the colliery.

The toll in the separate mishaps has risen to three with the death of an injured worker today.

Altogether five workers were injured in a hot air burst on Friday morning, while two were killed and 12 sustained injury in a similar incident at the same colliery on Tuesday last.

Some of the injured are undergoing treatment at local hospitals, while a few critically wounded have been air-lifted to Kolkata for further treatment.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Mine Safety has ordered an enquiry into the mishaps at the colliery, operated by the North Eastern Coal Fields (NECF) of Coal India Limited.

The executive director of Mine Safety has already reached the spot, while the colliery has been closed down after Saturday's mishap.

The Tinsukia district has also ordered a magisterial enquiry into the mishaps.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Coal Mazdor Union has alleged that the negligence of the company towards adhering to safety norms was the reason for the accidents.

UNI SG SB DB1846