Hyderabad, June 17: Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu has instituted a judicial probe into the mishap that occurred at Singareni Collieries near Karimnagar yesterday claiming 17 lives. Government has also announced a compensation of Rs six lakh each for the kin of the victims of the tragedy. Heavy-duty pumps are being used to drain out nearly five lakh gallons of water that had gushed into the mining area at Godavarikhani, about 70 kms from the district headquarter town of Karimnagar, trapping the miners.

"We have bailed out about 1.5 lakh gallons so far and the dewatering operation is expected to be completed by this evening,” sources at the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) said.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, accompanied by Coal Minister K Subbarayudu and other officials, rushed to the spot this morning by helicopter to personally supervise the salvage operations.

A fissure in one of the coal seams had led to sudden gushing of waters into the `Seven Lep` (life extension project) mine, leading to the caving in of a portion, blocking the exit route.

It is first time in the 100-year-old history of Singareni Collieries that such inundation occurred in the underground mine. There are 16 underground mines in Ramagundam division of SCCL.
While the company`s chief general manager K V Rao said the cause of the mishap is yet to be ascertained, representatives of a section of trade unions alleged that laxity on the part of SCCL authorities in providing safety measures had led to the disaster.
Bureau Report