At least 14 workers of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) were trapped inside a pulley lift that developed a technical glitch around 200 feet underground at a coal mine in West Bengal's Paschim Bardhaman district on Monday evening. Trade unions said the workers were safe and the rescue operation could take around three hours.
The incident took place at Kumardihi ‘A’ Colliery in Asansol. The lift, locally known as a ‘doli’, was being used to transport workers between the surface and the underground mine when its operating rope got entangled in the pulley drum inside the engine room, stopping the lift movement.
There were varying accounts of the number of workers stranded underground. While initial information suggested that 14 workers were trapped, an ECL official put the figure at around 10 to 12. Trade union representatives said 12-14 workers were inside the affected lift system.
Rescue and repair efforts were launched soon after the incident. Teams are attempting to free the entangled rope by rotating the drum in the opposite direction so that the lift can be operated again, and the workers brought to the surface.
Trade union leader Mintu Banerjee said the operation could take another two to three hours, depending on how quickly the technical fault was fixed. He said drinking water, dry fruits and other food items were being supplied to the stranded workers through the rope system.
An ECL official said there was no shortage of fresh air underground and that the workers were responding from below, indicating that they were in contact with those at the site.
Local MLA Jitendra Tiwari said the immediate priority was to bring all the workers out safely. He confirmed that the stranded workers were responding and that food had been sent to them.
Tiwari said questions about the cause of the malfunction and possible lapses in safety arrangements should be taken up after the rescue operation. He added that the role of trade unions, safety committees and other concerned authorities would be examined once the workers were brought out. If any negligence was established, strict action should follow, he said.
CONCERNS OVER LIFT MAINTENANCE
The incident raised fresh concerns over the maintenance of lifting equipment used to transport workers in underground mines.
Some workers claimed that the equipment had undergone repairs a few months ago and alleged that the doli had developed technical problems on earlier occasions as well. They also flagged previous instances of the lift getting stuck and concerns over the condition of its rope.
The claims have brought the focus back on the maintenance of underground transportation systems and the safety checks carried out on such equipment.
For now, rescue teams are working to resolve the technical fault and restore the lift's operation. Further details on the exact number of workers trapped and the progress of the rescue operation are awaited.
- Ends