Daijiworld Media Network - Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh, Dec 21: Two coal workers were trapped after a wall of an opencast mine collapsed on a coal-laden truck in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district late Saturday night, police said.
The incident occurred around 11 pm in the command area of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) under the limits of Urimari Police Station, when the highwall of the mine suddenly caved in on the vehicle during coal loading operations, a senior police officer said.
A highwall refers to the exposed face of overburden and coal in a mine, and its stability is crucial for the safety of both workers and machinery, mining experts noted.
The trapped workers have been identified as Sunil Yadav (30) and Raju Paswan (50), said Barkagaon Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Pawan Kumar. Both were on the truck at the time of the accident.
“A rescue operation is currently underway to retrieve the two trapped workers. Another individual was successfully rescued from the site and has been admitted to a local hospital,” the SDPO said.
Rescue efforts could not be carried out on Saturday night due to poor visibility caused by darkness and fog, along with a protest staged by coal workers at the site following the mishap, he added.
In the aftermath of the incident, labourers working at the opencast mine suspended coal extraction activities, demanding improved safety measures.