Odisha Coalmine Mishap: MCL Announces Compensation, Job For Dead Workers’ Kin

Bhubaneswar: The Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) on Tuesday announced compensation of Rs 30 lakh each for the families of the workers, who had died in the landslide at Bharatpur opencast coal mines at Talcher coalfields in Angul district.

One member of each family will also be given a contractual job to be regularised in a month, sources said.

The mishap had occurred between 11 pm and 11:30 pm on July 23 when a portion of earth broke loose, trapping 13 workers and machinery at work.

Two weeks after the landslide at Bharatpur coalmine in Talcher, body of a worker was retrieved on August 5.

Earlier, bodies of four workers were recovered from under the debris. While the body of Pupun Biswal of Kukudanga village was recovered a day after the incident, that of Rajkishore Mahapatra (pump operator) of Sibarampur village and Rashmi Ranjan Behera (supervisor) of Gobara village were retrieved on July 26. The rescue team had recovered a severed hand and mutilated body parts of security guard Ramesh Das of Lakeipasi village. Later, a leg and the intestine were retrieved on July 30.

Meanwhile, locals withdrew the 13-day strike, demanding safety inspection of Talcher coalfields along with a high-level probe into the incident and adequate compensation to the bereaved families, after a tripartite meeting with Angul collector and MCL authorities.