December 13, 2006
Daijiworld News Network - Goa
Pics Rajtilak Naik in Panaji
Pictorial update
Sanguem-Tollem mine area
The site of the mishap
An army captain monitoring the rescue work
A Pocklin which was heavily damaged in the accident
One of the Volvo dumper trucks recovered from the site
Dumper trucks moving the debris
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Mine Accident Reports
DNA
Panaji, Dec 12: Even 48 hours after the massive landslide that buried six workers at a mining dump in Goa, only one body has been recovered so far. This despite a combined effort by locals, the army, navy and the police. Navy divers were deployed for an under water search on Monday.
"It's a tricky site and despite political pressure, we cannot hurry up the recovery process for fear of causing another accident. It will take some time," Rajiv Yaduvanshi, secretary, mines, told DNA. The landslide was 100 metres high and covered an area of 12,000 square feet. It crushed six workers and six vehicles underneath.
Chetan Timblo, owner of the mine, said: "The company will take care of the families of those who died." Timbolo was gheraoed on Saturday and Sunday by the grieving relatives, who accused him of paying no heed to safety measures. According to Babi Velip, who has filed a petition against mine owners for causing pollution and destroying the fields and wells in the area, the hapless workers are paying the price for the owners' negligence.
The mine had received a safety clearance certificate from the Margao-based Directorate of Mines Safety last week. It is the first major mining accident in Goa in more than 10 years. Mining is the second largest revenue earner in Goa after tourism, and it brings in a revenue of Rs 5,000 crore annually. According to Sridhar of the Mine Owners Exporters Asscociation, around 25 million tones of iron ore was exported last year.
There are 25 mines in Goa that give employment to around 3,000 people. However, many are contract workers said a source in the Iron and Manganese Ore Mines Welfare Fund Organisation. And contract workers virtually get no benefits, they added. The Sanguem police have registered an offence against four officials of the mining company, including its managing director. They have been charged under Section 304(A) (negligence) of the Indian Penal Code. A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered by the government. While villagers accuse the mine owner for the accident, officers in the management committee feel that the Directorate of Mines Safety will probe the actual cause of the disaster.
Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar criticised the government for its "inept" handling of the situation and said the tragedy has exposed the lack of a disaster management plan in the state. Blaming the state administration for its lapse in conducting regular safety checks, Parrikar said all mines in Goa should now be inspected to avert such misfortunes in future.
Govt orders magisterial probe into mine tragedy
NT
Panaji: A magisterial inquiry has been ordered by the government into Saturday’s mine tragedy, at Tollem mines, near Sanguem, which is feared to have killed five workers, even as an assistance has been sought from the navy and army for conducting site clearing operations.
The Minister for Mines, Digambar Kamat, informally speaking to the reporters, this morning said that only one body has been recovered so far.
The authorities have pressed into service various machines to dig up the loose soil, which caved-in the iron ore mine yesterday afternoon before the lunch break. Some proclains and dumpers are also believed to have been trapped inside the mine.
“The official report regarding the details of the tragedy has not been received yet,” Kamat said, adding that further mining activities in the mine have already been stopped.
Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition, Manohar Parrikar, addressing a press conference, said that the tragedy has exposed the lack of availability of a disaster management system in the state.
“Though the person or agency responsible for the tragedy remains to be identified, it is a fact that the rescue operation was very slow, yesterday,” he observed.
Parrikar also stated that the presence of the Minister for Mines at the site, after the tragedy had occurred, would have at least increased the speed of the rescue operation. “This is one of the examples as to how the government deals with the issues concerning public life,” he retorted.
Parrikar further said that only deputy collector (South Goa) and superintendent of police (South) were present at the site, both of them having no capacity to mobilise help.
The leader of the opposition also observed that the mines are going deeper and the dumps higher and adequate care should be taken to prevent such incidents.
Six killed in Goa's mining tragedy
IANS
Panaji: Six workers were killed when iron ore mining dumps collapsed in the Tollem mines in Goa, police said on Sunday.
The nearly 100-metre high mining dumps - covering an area in a 200-metre radius - gave way Saturday and buried excavating machines and operators beneath them in the interior Sanguem iron-ore mining heartland of the state, some 60 km from here.
The landslide was so sudden that those trapped were unable to even react, according to eyewitnesses.
Military personnel carried out rescue operations at the site.
Ironically, the disaster came on the eve of the Mines Safety Week, which has been 'postponed due to unavoidable circumstances'.
Police said a case of negligence was filed against the board of directors and managers of the mine.
Governor S.C. Jamir and Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane expressed shock over the incident.
Much of the mining activity in Goa is carried out in privately run and badly ravaged open cast mines tucked away in interiors, away from the coastal region that is a prime tourist destination.