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Journalism of Courage
About 150 labourers at Mahanadi Coalfield Limited’s (MCL) colliery at Odera were trapped in an underground mine this evening as the lift carrying them became non-operational,official sources said.
Altogether 250 labourers were initially trapped when going 700 feet below the ground level but about 100 workers were rescued using a lift used for transporting coal,MCL’s General Manager Indrakumar Dehuri said.
However,150 labourers still remained underneath and they would be brought back to the ground level soon,he assured.The senior official claimed all the workers were safe and there was no cause for worry.
Some of the labourers,brought up from the pit,also said those trapped were okay and waiting for rescue.
Workers’ leader Sarbeswar Sahu said the underground mines was in operation for over a decade but the labourers had never before faced such a situation.
