Death holes
JOWAI: As many as 11 coal miners in East Jaintia Hills were killed in accidents in December alone raising serious questions yet again on the apparent lack of safety measures for labourers working in the coal mines of the State.
On Thursday, one Mainul Haque (24) of Barpeta, Assam died on the spot while he was working in a coal mine at Sahkai under the jurisdiction of Narwan Village in East Jaintia Hills.
According to police, Haque was working inside a 100 feet deep horizontal coal mine when a huge stone that fell upon him crushed him to death.
Earlier on Wednesday, four workers died on the spot inside coal mines in two different locations. One Emja Wari fell inside a coal mine at Warapasa, Khliehriat (East Jaintia Hills) and died on the spot, while three others died at a coal mine in Briwar when the crane that was being used to take them down collapsed. Two miners also sustained injuries in the incident.
The trio was identified as Musabbir Islam (22), Saidul Rahman (40), and Atabur Haque (25), all from Nagaon, Assam. They were working in a coal mine belonging to one Hepstar Bamon of Sutnga village. The matter was reported to Khliehriat police by a coal mine supervisor, Sultan Mohammad.
It may be mentioned that the first coal mine mishap of the month was reported on December 6 when five miners died on the spot after the cable of a crane which was used to pull out coal from a vertically deep coal pit snapped. The crane was also used to carry miners in and out.
The deceased were identified as Harkeshwar Boro (35), Balen Borali (42), Pankeshwar Kumar (22), Kanta Boro (25) and Balu Boro (32), all from Assam.
The second tragedy occurred on December 13 when one Jirmal Boro of Assam died on the spot when the crane cable snapped while the worker was going down to the coal pit.
According to a senior police officer, negligence on the part of the mine supervisors has led to the numerous casualties. He also informed that cases under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code, have been registered in this regard.
