The search operation for missing three coal workers continued on the second day on Thursday at the Bharatpur opencast mine in the Talcher Coalfields of the Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL).
On Wednesday, the body of one Pupun Biswal (Driver) of SICAL Company was recovered from the debris of landmass that broke loose after strata collapse late on Tuesday night.
However, searches were on for locating three other workers of the company Rashmi Ranjan Behera (Supervisor), Ramesh Dash (Security Guard) and Raj Kishore Mohapatra (Pump Khalasi), who had gone missing after the accident.
The NDRF along with Mines Rescue team of MCL are conducting the rescue operation. The NDRF team used sniffer dogs during the search but they were no signs of life.
While the search operation was suspended in the afternoon due to heavy downpour, the same would resume after dewatering of the area.
The MCL has decided to pay an ex-gratia amount of Rs five lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, along with full compensation (ranging from
Rs 3,97,480 to Rs 9,14,160
calculated on the basis of the age of the deceased) as per Employees Compensation Act, gratuity amount of 15 days wage of the worker for each year of service completed, Provident Fund (PF), benefits under Coal Mines Pension Scheme and an employment in contractual establishment to a family member.