A 32-year-old driver of SIKlE logistics Company died on the spot when his Hywa tipper fell down about 50 meter deep in the Samleswary Open Cast Mine (SOCP) under the Ib Valley area of MCl on Tuesday late morning.
The driver was identified as Gelu Maghi from Maghipara of lajkura village under Brajrajnagar police limits. This is the second such incident to have taken place in SOCP in 30 days. When the incident occurred, Maghi was removing over burden (OB) from the top stair of the mine.
Outraged by Maghi’s demise, workers and villagers stopped production and dispatch of coal from the mine and demanded a compensation of `50 lakh for the victim’s family. A group also ransacked the SOCP project office and caused damage to the property.
After a long discussion with the villagers, SIKlE Company officials, SOCP Project Officer Vaijaynti Kumar and SDPO Brajrajnagar decided that the SIKlE logistic Company would pay a compensation of `12.5 lakh to the victim’s family.
Ib Valley GM SK Srivastava said that the company also promised to immediately release `25,000 for the Maghi’s funeral and assured a job to his wife. The stalling of the mines operations due to the agitation is stated to have cost the SOCP a production loss of about 42,000 tonnes.