Andhra Pradesh   

4 Singareni miners killed in accident

Staff Reporter

Roof collapses in mine; foreign national rescued Roof collapses in mine; foreign national rescued seven hours after the incident

PLANNING A STRATEGY: Rescue workers and trade union leaders at the accident spot in the underground mine of Singareni Collieries Company Limited near Kothagudem on Sunday

KOTHAGUDEM: Four persons, including an undermanager, were killed as the roof of an underground coal mine, Venkateshkhani (7 incline), one of the oldest underground mines of Singareni Collieries Company Limited , caved in near Kothagudem on Sunday.

A foreign national and a mining engineer of a private company, both working on new machinery introduced in the mine, were rescued seven hours after the incident.

The roof fall occurred when `continuous miner', the machine provided by `Joy Mining', was about to resume its operations in the day.

Six persons, including Thomas N. Kosi (South African national), shuttle car operator of the machine, and Pratap Kumar Sharma, both representing the private company, were inside the mine.

They were heading for the 32 dip area when a huge block of the coal seam came down sealing their exit.

The rescue teams reached the spot promptly but it took more than four hours for them to clear their way.

P. Sudheerbabu, undermanager, N. Ramji, 47, overman, and K. Ramachander, 37, and P. Buchaiah, 38, both general mazdoors died on the spot.

Situation being monitored

A team of officials from the Safety Department and the company directors were monitoring the salvage operations.

A senior official of the company said that the roof fall was unpredictable.

The SCCL has ordered an enquiry into the incident. Union Minister of State for Woman and Child Development, Renuka Chowdary visited the mine.

Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy expressed "deep shock" and "grief" over the death of the miners in Singareni Collieries. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

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