Kohima: Two mine owners have been arrested in connection with the deaths of six workers from Assam trapped in a fire at a rat-hole coal mine in Wokha district in Nagaland, on Thursday.
The tragedy claimed the lives of six men from neighboring Assam, leaving their families devastated.
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The incident occurred in Ruchanyan village, where the six miners, along with four others, were working deep inside the narrow, hazardous tunnel. An initial explosion was reported, followed by a fire that engulfed the mine.
While four miners were rescued and rushed to a hospital in Dimapur, all six others perished. Officials stated that the deceased hailed from Devipur, Sonapur, and Dayalpur villages near the Assam-Nagaland border in Golaghat district.
“Six coal miners, hailing from…tragically lost their lives in a fire that broke out at a coal mine in Ruchan village…yesterday,” wrote Assam minister Jayanta Mallabaruah in a tweet, offering condolences and promising support to the bereaved families.
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The arrests of the mine owners highlight concerns over the unsafe working conditions prevalent in rat-hole coal mines. These unregulated mines, often dug without proper safety measures, pose constant danger to miners who work in cramped, poorly ventilated tunnels.