Three die of asphyxiation at illegal coal mine in Gujarat
The Hindu
Three labourers died of asphyxiation inside an illegal coal mine in Surendranagar district of Gujarat on Saturday.
Three labourers died of asphyxiation inside an illegal coal mine in Surendranagar district of Gujarat on Saturday.
It is the fourth such incident reported this year in which a total of 10 people had lost their lives while digging for low-grade coal in illegal mines found in several parts of the district. The coal is used to fuel factories in the State and elsewhere.
The deceased have been identified as Lakshman Dabhi, 35, Khodabhai Makwana, 32, and Viram Keraliya, 35. They were working in a mine near Bhet village in Thangadh taluka without helmets, masks, or any other safety equipment, said officials.
The police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against four people, but are yet to make any arrests.
Kalpesh Parmar, a BJP taluka panchayat member, and Khimji Saradiya, whose wife is a district panchayat member of the BJP, are among the accused.
The first information report (FIR) said the accused failed to provide essential safety gear to the labourers, who died after inhaling toxic gas in the mine.
In February, three workers had died after inhaling toxic gas that emanated after a blast triggered by gelatin sticks during an illegal mining operation in the district. As per the details, the workers were digging a pit for an illegal coal mine in Devpara village. All of them hailed from Rajasthan. In January, three labourers died after being buried due to unstable soil conditions, while one labourer died last month.