A day after 50 workers were trapped in a mine of the Bharat Coking Coal Limited's Bhatbih Colliery in Jharia, hopes of finding survivors began fading. Rescuers have found at least 43 bodies deep inside the mine. Until late this evening, rescue teams had been unable to make any contact with the others trapped inside.

Lakshman Jha, Director (Technical), Coal India Ltd, who was monitoring operations of some of the rescue teams, said 34 bodies had been found at 17.5-level over 300 metres below the surface. A PTI report later put the toll at 43.

Since early morning, rescue teams drawn from Eastern Coalfields Limited, Central Coalfields Limited, BCCL and other coal ventures made attempts to reached those trapped inside. Attempts were made to introduce fresh air and ventilation as the teams searched level after level.

“The rescue operation was affected due to high presence of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide. We had 310 rescue workers in different teams. As per our records, 50 workers are missing,” said B Ramarao, CGM, Safety & Rescue, BCCL.

Families and friends of the trapped miners said the arrival of politicians was hampering rescue efforts. Angry crowds gheraoed Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda when he reached the accident site in Nagda, the 17th incline of the BCCL colliery.

People told Munda to take action against officials who sent in workers despite being aware of high methane presence in the mine.

“Our priority is to reach those trapped inside. There are many possibilities of what may have led to the accident. It appears that safety equipment was not available, as required. But there is an official agency that gives clearance to the coal companies in this matter. We need to find out if there has been any negligence,” said Munda.

... contd.