The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Rajasthan mine lift collapse: HCL officer dies, 14 rescued
AFTER AN overnight operation that stretched into noon Wednesday, 14 people trapped in a Rajasthan mine due to a lift collapse were rescued. Another person — Hindustan Copper Ltd’s (HCL) Chief Vigilance Officer Upendrapandey—succumbedto injuries.
The reason for the accident at the government-run firm’s Kolihan mine, one of the largest copper mines in the state, is still unclear, with mine workers claiming that a similar incident had happened on monday. senior officials were not available for comment on this allegation.
In Delhi, Mines Sec reta ryVL Kan thar a os aid an inquiry will be ordered into the incident. “I had been in the same lift a few months back. It was all good... we will get an inquiry done and find out what happened ,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.
Seven of the rescued people have been admitted to a private hospital in Jaipur. Most of them have suffered fractures in their feet. The condition of one official, K KS harm a, is said to be critical.
A HCL vigilance team from Kolkata and senior Khetri Copper Complex( k cc) officials were leaving the mine on Tuesday at 8.10 pm when the cable snapped and the lift plunged into the shaft, leaving them trapped at a depth of 1,875 feet. KCC is an HCL unit.
The first set of three people were pulled out at 6.10 am. the remaining people were rescued in a similar manner by 12 pm in four more batches, said Chetram Kasana, a mine worker involved in the operation. The body of Upendra Pandey was pulled out at the very end. The authorities said his family inkolka ta has been informed.
The AGM of HCL, YR Meena, was among the people rescued. He suffered injuries in his left leg and is undergoing treatment at KCC Hospital. He told The Indian Express: “When we fell, it was a shock to us and all of us were breathless. We felt hope when some rescuers came down the stairs. A lot of us were injured and unable to move. I have not received any serious injuries, so i decided to stay at KCC. I am hopeful the others are fine.”