Six more miners' bodies retrieved

RANCHI, FEB. 10. With the recovery of six more bodies today, the toll in February 2 Bagdighi mine disaster has risen to 11. The BCCL rescue team retrieved the body of the mine manager, A.K. Upadhayaya, along with five other miners from the submerged coalmine today.

Operations were under way to retrieve the remaining 18 miners, still trapped inside the inundated mine. One miner Salim Ansari was rescued alive while 31 others were feared dead.

According to the BCCL rescue control room at Bagdighi, some more bodies were likely to be retrieved by tonight as water level had receded further. Two slurry pumps have been pressed into service to clear slush.

The Minister of State for Coal, Mr. Shanawaj Hussein, announced institution of a court of inquiry into the mine disaster. The Minister, who reached Dhanbad this forenoon, to review the rescue operation, instructed the BCCL management to suspend three officers - Mr. A.K. Sengupta (project officer), Mr. R.N. Kundu and Mr. R.C. Das (both surveyor).

Journalists, including those from electronic media, boycotted the Minister's programme here in protest against alleged manhandling of them by the local administration. They demanded removal of both the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police who did not allow them to accompany the Minister inside the Jairampur Colliery, though the Minister had okayed.

The DC, Mr. Vinod Kistosta, allegedly pushed the journalists and chased them away. The mediapersons were also not allowed to go near the control room where the Minister held discussions with BCCL officials.

- UNI and PTI

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