The fire in a coal mine near Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh continued to rage on Monday even as scores of fire tenders have been relentlessly trying the douse the flames, which had broken out yesterday afternoon.
Fire tenders from the nearby towns of Chhindwara, Parasiya, Newton Chikhali, Chandameta and Damua were rushed to Coal India ltd's Bhajipani open Cast Mine after locals noticed smoke coming out of the mine.
According to reports, the locals have expressed concern over the raging inferno with smoke emanating from the mine becoming a major problem for the locals.
Sources alleged that the matter of possession of locked down opencast coal mine at Chhindwara the coal mafia set afire the mine. The mine at Parasiya near to Bhajipani was closed for a long time. The ‘Western coal field’ used to mine coal in this field.
After it was closed the coal mafia started selling cola in small quantities out of this mine. There was dispute among different mafias for the possession of coal mine. The ‘Western coal field’ has started extinguishing the fire that has spread in this mine. The company is waiting for permission from different ministries to start mining again. Smoke was coming out of the mine for the past three days and on Sunday it started spreading. On Monday attempts were made to extinguish the fire.
Notably, the coal mafia was active in this area and was in the middle of a dispute regarding the possession. The information given was that the fire was due the poisonous gas coming out from the mine, but the mine is not that deep to let gases escape into the air.
The coal was being taken out from under a big rock. According to sources the mafia used to take out five to six trolleys of coal every day and supply it to nearby brick furnace. Each trolley would cost Rs 12,000.