Rajasthan Lift Collapse: 8 Stuck In Copper Mine Rescued, Injured Referred To Jaipur Hospital

The Rajasthan Lift Collapse occurred in the Kohlihan mine on Tuesday night when a vertical shaft used to transport personnel broke down during an inspection.

Rajasthan Lift Collapse: Fourteen officials and members of a vigilance team of PSU Hindustan Copper Limited were trapped in a mine located in Rajasthan's Neem ka Thana district, located around 108 km from the state capital, Jaipur. Of the trapped personnel, at least 8 have been rescued so far according to news agency PTI. The lift accident occurred in Kolihan mine on Tuesday night when a vertical shaft that is used for transporting personnel collapsed. The rescue operation to assist the people trapped inside the mine was conducted, after which all the people were safely rescued. 

Shishram, a nursing staffer of Jhunjhunu Government Hospital, said that the people suffered limb fractures. "However, everyone is safe. Three of them have sustained serious injuries... The rescue operation was done with the help of a ladder," Shriram told news agency ANI.

Dr Pravin Sharma of the Jhunjhunu Government Hospital said: "All the people trapped in the mine have been rescued safely. Three of them were in serious condition and have been referred to a Jaipur hospital."

Here's what happened:

• Fourteen officials of Hindustan Copper Limited were trapped inside Kolihan mine in Rajasthan after the lift collapsed on Tuesday night.


• On Wednesday morning, at least 8 of them were rescued safely. Three officials who sustained serious injuries have been referred to Jaipur.


• While the resuce operation was underway, the Superintendent of Police of Neem ka Thana district, Praveen Nayak, stated that a rescue team is at the spot to help the trapped personnel, some of whom are said to be injured.


• "Efforts are on to bring out the personnel who are stuck at a depth of several hundred metres at the Kolihan mine," the police told news agency PTI.


• The incident reportedly occurred when the vigilance team along with senior officials of the state-owned company were at the mine to conduct an inspection, PTI reported citing preliminary information.


• As the officials were about to come up, a rope of the shaft or 'cage' snapped due to which around 14 people were stuck, the police told PTI.


• Following the incident, Khetri MLA Dharmpal Gurjar reached the site and took stock of the situation.


• Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma tweeted about the incident: "Information was received about an accident caused by breakage of the lift rope in the Kolihan mine of Hindustan Copper Limited in Khetri, Jhunjhunu. The concerned officials have been instructed to immediately reach the spot and speed up the relief and rescue operations and provide all possible help and health facilities to the affected people..."

• Commenting on the incident, BJP MLA Dharmpal Gurjar said: "I had gone to Haryana for election campaign but when I got this information, I immediately came here. I called everyone and took stock of the entire situation. I have called the SDM here."


• The rescue team is engaged to provide relief to the trapped officials and around seven ambulances are also at the spot, the Khteri MLA said.


• "The entire administration is on alert. There is no report of any death so far, definitely everyone will come out safely," he added.

(The story has been updated to reflect the number of rescued personnel with inputs from PTI.)