Two, including a Chinese worker, killed in mishap at Gumgaon mine
   Date :24-Jan-2020

Two including a Chinese w
 
 
Khapa Correspondent :
 
A Chinese worker and a local labourer were killed after a shaft at underground mine of Manganese Ore India Limited (MOIL) caved in on Wednesday night. The mishap occurred at Gumgaon mine in Saoner area at 11 pm. Two other labourers were injured by the falling debris of tonnes of boulders following collapse of the shaft that failed to bear the weight of mine wall, said the police after preliminary probe. A Chinese company engaged by MOIL is working at Tighai area for last three years for vertical expansion of the underground mine. Last night about 10 to 12 labourers were engaged in some work in Section 2.
 
The mine is nearly 173 metres deep and work of horizontal opening was on for which a few days before the controlled explosion was carried out. The workers were engaged in installing roof belt to support the mine ceiling when a powerful explosion rocked the mine. Within moments entire Section 2 was enveloped by thick boulders trapping the gang of labourers. While two Chang Wang (32), a Chinese, and Pankaj Khushal Chauriwar (23), a resident of Tadgaon, died on the spot and they were trapped under the debris. The other workers managed to extricate two others Wang Yunsha (30), Anil Bagade, a resident of Kocchi, and they are admitted to local hospital.
 
On receipt of information a team of Khapa police and emergency response team of MOIL rushed to the spot. It took nearly six hours before MOIL team could bring out the bodies of two labourers from the underground mine. Meanwhile, an inquiry is ordered by Director General of Mine Safety in the incident of collapse of underground mine shaft. Efforts to get official quote from Vikrant Khedikar, Manager, Gumgaon Mine, MOIL, failed as he did not respond to calls. Deceased Pankaj was sole bread-winner of the family and fellow workers have demanded compensation from MOIL to next of the kin. Police Station Officer (PSO) Harshal Ekre, Vijay Barai, Ankush Lakhe, Sanjay Wankhede visited the spot. At present Khapa police have registered a case of accidental death. Further probe is on.