PTI
Dhanbad, Sep 7: At least 30 of the 50 miners trapped in a coal mine in Dhanbad have died due to inhalation of carbon monoxide following an explosion underground and authorities virtually ruled out the survival of the remaining.
"Rescue teams have recovered 30 bodies from the Bhatdih mines after managing to reach the 17th level of the mine and vigorous efforts are on to rescue the remaining nearly 20 workers," Coal Minister Shibu Soren said.
Fearing the worst, Soren, who visited the accident site, announced a compensation of Rs 3 lac to the families of the deceased workers and a job to their kin.
Bharat Coking Coal chairman and managing director Partha S Bhattacharya had earlier said, "The possibility of the survival of the miners is bleak".
BCCL sources said it would be difficult for the miners to have survived the carbon monoxide gas after the explosion.