West Bengal: 6 Killed, Three Injured In Coal Mine Explosion In Birbhum; Probe On

The blast occurred when detonators were being transported in a truck for planned mining operations at the Gangaramchak and Gangaramchak-Bhadulia coal mines.

At least six people lost their lives and three others were injured in an explosion at a coal mine in the Birbhum district of West Bengal on Monday, a police officer said. The blast occurred when detonators were being transported in a truck for planned mining operations at the Gangaramchak and Gangaramchak-Bhadulia coal mines, according to an official from the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd (WBPDCL).

The incident took place around 10:30 am in Bhadulia village, where a WBPDCL captive mine is located. “Six people were killed and three others were injured,” Additional Superintendent of Police of Birbhum, Rana Mukherjee, said, news agency PTI reported.

WBPDCL Chairman and Managing Director, P B Salim, said the incident took place in the dump yard of the coal block. “An investigation has been initiated to ascertain the cause of the blast. Those killed in the explosion were workers of the agency deployed for mine operations. Currently, we are providing assistance to affected workers," P B Salim also said.

Local BJP MLA Lashes Out At Safety Precautions Of Mine

A mine developer and operator (MDO) concerned with running the operations at the captive block will be provided compensation to the families of the victims, another WBPDCL official said.

Local BJP MLA Anup Saha, who visited the site, reported that the injured individuals are in critical condition and criticised the lack of safety precautions during the unloading of explosive materials from the truck, which was destroyed in the blast.

WBPDCL, owned by the West Bengal government, operates five power plants with an installed capacity of 4,265 MW. The company plans to add 660 MW of thermal capacity during the current fiscal year.