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The Coal Ministry has constituted a Committee under the chairmanship of Shri S. Chowdhary, CMD, Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited, (CMPDIL), Ranchi, for holding a departmental inquiry into the accident at the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL)'s Saunda mine in Bansagara, Jharkhand, where 14 miners have been trapped since June 15 after its roof caved in. The Committee shall submit its report within 10 days. This area is near Ramgarh Cantt. around 40 kms. from Ranchi. Action to de-water the drowned area was taken immediately. The total quantity of water flew from the upper seam to lower seam is estimated at 6.8 million gallons. Two pumps of 500 gallons per minute capacity (GPM) and one pump of 1000 GPM have already been commissioned. Two more pumps of 2000 GPM and 500 GPM respectively will be installed tomorrow.
Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao, visited the accident site on June 16 and ordered the probe on mine mishap. Shri Rao made personal assessment of the situation and directed coal company officials to take all possible measures to expedite dewatering process and rescue operation. The Coal Ministry today asked the Coal India Limited (CIL) to review the risk factors of all small mines. A team of Naval divers is kept in readyness to assist in rescue operations, as soon as water level reaches within their operational limit. The Director (Technical) of CCL and Deputy Director-General of Mines Safety are camping at the site and supervising dewatering and rescue operations. Chief Minister of Jharkhand and Director-General of Mines Safety visited the site on the day of the accident occurred.
In the night shift of June 14, forty-five persons were working in the mine. At the end of the night shift out of them 12 loaders and two supervisors did not come out. Having received this information, the mine officials alongwith 5 of rescue trained persons rushed into the mine. Rescue team from Ramgarh Rescue Station was also summoned immediately and they were engaged in rescue and recovery operations.
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