Andhra Pradesh government today ordered a judicial probe into the Karimnagar mine disaster which claimed 17 lives even as de-watering operations were on in the mining area to trace the bodies.
The judicial inquiry would be headed by a sitting High Court judge, the chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said after visiting the accident site and personally reviewing the salvage operations.
Confirming the death of 17 miners who were trapped following a sudden gush of waters into the Godavarikhani mining area, Naidu announced an ex-gratia of Rs six lakh each to the victims.
As a pall of gloom descended on the coalmine town, about 70 km from Karimnagar, the Chief Minister arrived in a helicopter to supervise salvage operations.
Naidu had to face angry relatives of the disaster victims and employees who complained of lack of proper safety measures in the mines.
Meanwhile, heavy-duty pumps were being used to drain out nearly five lakh gallons of water that had gushed into the mining area, trapping the miners.
A fissure in one of the coal seams had led to sudden gushing of waters into the 'Seven LEP' (Life Extension Project) mine. As a result, a portion of the mine caved in blocking the exit route.
{{/usCountry}}A fissure in one of the coal seams had led to sudden gushing of waters into the 'Seven LEP' (Life Extension Project) mine. As a result, a portion of the mine caved in blocking the exit route.
{{/usCountry}}It is first time in the 100 year old history of Singareni Collieries that such inundation occurred in the underground mine. There are 16 underground mines in Ramagundam division of SCCL.