Two women suffocate in coal pit

Police said the women worked as daily wage labourers in the nearby fields and construction areas.

Two women died of asphyxiation when a mound of coal dust collapsed on them while they were illegally digging for coal in a power house, in Central Delhi’s IP Estate area on Wednesday afternoon.

According to police, three women from the adjoining Anna Nagar jhuggi entered the power house premises without permission by scaling a wall. They got into a four foot deep hole in the ground, where waste generated from used coal is stored. They began scraping the walls to extract coal. However, a portion of the hole gave way, trapping the women.

Police said one of the trapped women raised the alarm. Hearing her, security guards immediately made a PCR call. Police then pulled the women out of the hole and rushed them to hospital, where Neelam (35) and Manisha (19) were declared brought dead. Vijaya is undergoing treatment.

Police said the women worked as daily wage labourers in the nearby fields and construction areas. Police said several persons from the JJ clusters enter and steal coal, which they sell in the market.

“We have registered a case under Section 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304 (a) (death due to negligence) of the IPC. However, we have made no arrest. Two of the women died while the third is severely injured and admitted to LNJP hospital,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Paramaditya said.

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