JOWAI: Five miners have been crushed to death when the cables of a crane being used to lower them into a coal pit snapped midway hurling them down the pit in East Jaintia Hills district.
The incident occurred on Friday in the coal mine owned by one Nangtre Dkhar of Latyrke village at Briwar, about 80 km from Shillong. All five died on the spot.
The deceased have been identified as Harkeshwar Boro (35) of Champa village in Cherang district of Assam, Balen Borali (42), Pankeshwar Kumar (22), Kanta Boro (25) and Balu Boro (32) all from Assam.
Though the tragedy occurred on Friday morning, an official source said, the incident came to light only by evening after miners informed the villagers about the tragedy.
The bodies of the victims were retrieved from the 200 feet deep coal pit and have been sent for post mortem.
“We have registered a case and investigation has began to ascertain the cause of the accident leading to the death of the five miners,” MK Dkhar, the police chief of East Jaintia Hills, said.
The latest incident is the seventh in a series of mishaps in unscientific rat-hole coal pits in the state which claimed 20 lives in 2013.
The Geological Survey of India has estimated that coal reserves in the state is around 460 metric tonnes and of a high-grade sub-bituminous type with less ash content, compared to the coal variety found in any other parts of the country.
Coal labourer killed: Meanwhile, in another incident, a coal labourer identified as Eka Rai of Bodhpur, Nepal was allegedly murdered by one Nowel Paslein at a coal labourer camp in East Jaintia hills district. Police have arrested the accused. (With inputs from agencies)
Coalmine tragedies in 2013
Dec. 6: Five miners crushed to death when the cable of crane carrying them snapped in East Jaintia Hills.
Nov.10: A coal worker died in a coalmine in West Khasi hills.
Oct 9: Four miners died after inhaling toxic gas in a coal pit in South West Khasi Hills.
Oct 6: A coal labourer died inside a coal mine due to suffocation in East Jaintia Hills .
March 10: Three coal workers killed in coal pit in South Garo Hills, three others injured after the collapse of a cable of make shift lift.
Jan.21: A coal miner crushed to death after cable of a coal-laden trolley snapped in East Jaintia Hills.
Jan 4: Five labourers crushed to death in a coal mine in East Jaintia Hills when a cable of coal-laden trolley snapped.