Bodies of two of the miners trapped in Ranchi recovered

Bodies of two miners, who were trapped in a Jharkhand mine after it caved in, have been recovered today.

Ranchi, Oct 7 : Bodies of two miners, who were trapped in a Jharkhand mine after it caved in, have been recovered today.

Officials say rescue operations are on as four to five people are believed to be still trapped.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning when a portion of the mine capsized as the villagers were digging coal from the Karma Project of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) falling under Jharkhand's Ramgarh District.

Villagers alleged that the government officials reached very late at the accident site.

"The incident happened between 6 a.m. and 6.45 a.m. The government officials have come only around 10.30 a.m.," said Sukhram, a villager.

Villagers fear that all the trapped miners are dead.

Police officials said the CCL is operating the mine illegally and added that subsequent action would be taken against it.

"Police have always taken action against illegal mines, but this falls under the CCL (Central Coalfields Limited). It (the accident) is their (CCL's) carelessness and action will be taken against them," said Pran Ranjan, officer-in-charge.

Jharkhand, which has the largest coal deposits in the country, has witnessed several mining accidents in the past.

In 1995, over 70 miners died in a mining accident following heavy rains. A similar accident had claimed lives of 11 miners at the same spot in 1976.

The worst disaster took place in 1975 when nearly 400 miners were killed in a mine collapse in Dhanbad area.

ANI