Directorate General of Mines Safety is likely to submit its report related to lalmatia Mines tragedy in a week’s time as the inquiry in this regard has already been completed. The incident occurred at around 7:30 pm on December 29 when a massive mound of earth came crashing down on excavators at lalmatia open cast coal mine of Eastern Coalfields ltd (ECl), killing at least 18 persons and injuring dozens of workers.
“Enquiry in this regard has already been completed and the report could be submitted to the ministry in a week’s time,” said DGMS Deputy Director General (HQ) PK Sarkar.
A five-member panel, comprising Deputy Director General of Eastern Coalfields limited Utpal Guha as its inquiry officer, was formed by the DGMS following directions from Coal Minister Piyush Goyal to examine the cause of the accident, human failure, if any or whether the accident could have been avoided by taking identified corrective measures.
“Since it is a confidential matter, details of it could not be shared. All I can say in this regard is that the probe has been completed and a report is being prepared at the level of DGMS which could be submitted to the ministry of coal within a week’s time,” said Guha.
Initial reports by the high power five-member inquiry committee said that it was a case of absolute negligence by Eastern Coalfields limited and despite several warnings and indicatives; mining process was resumed resulting in the accident claiming at least 18 lives.
The mining operation, which forms a part of the Eastern Coalfields limited’s Rajmahal Opencast Project, was outsourced to Mahalaxmi Company. Mining process reportedly, was resumed barely three days before the accident took place.
The DGMS had indicated earlier that it will take at least a months time to complete the probe as each and every aspect of it will have to be looked into in detail.
Also, the panel was to examine measures that could be taken to avoid recurrence of such accidents in the future in Rajmahal Open Cast Mine and other open cast mines of CIl with similar workings.
According to ECl official, so far 18 bodies have been recovered from the site of collapse and an FIR has also been lodged in this regard against the Mining Manager of ECl, officials of Mahalaxmi Company and several others.