Two killed, one hurt in Faridabad mine mishap

FARIDABAD, January 1: Two miners were killed and one seriously injured when rocks piled around the mouth of a mine came loose and fell on...

FARIDABAD, January 1: Two miners were killed and one seriously injured when rocks piled around the mouth of a mine came loose and fell on them in the Pali-Mohabatabad mining zone in Faridabad yesterday.

The incident occurred in the afternoon when the three miners — Dev Pal, Ram Sahay and Babu Lal — were crushing stones inside the silica mine. Dev Pal and Ram Sahay died on the spot, while Babu Lal was rescued by his fellow miners.

The miners said contractor Vijendra fled the spot after the incident.

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According to the police, Babu Lal had stated that the miners had asked for the pile of rocks to be removed before they began work inside the mine, but that the contractor had paid no heed. A case of negligence and causing death to the miners has only been registered against the contractor. The police have not been able to determine the identity of the lease-holder of the mine yet, according to the local SHO and Superintendent of Police Aqil Ahmad. A senior police official, however, said that mine has been leased in the name of BJP MP from Faridabad Ram Chander Bainda or his elder brother. Bainda was out of town.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner B.K. Panigrahi said: “The lease holder will be asked to pay compensation to the miners who lost their lives in yesterday’s mishap.”

Accidents are not new in the mining zone of Faridabad. Five miners were killed and two injured last year in different mining accidents, including those involving explosive blasts, as per a report prepared by the Labour Commissioner in Faridabad.

The mine workers are mostly migrant labourers from Bihar, Orissa and UP.