Rourkela: One youth was killed and another seriously injured when a portion of an abandoned limestone mine at Hatibari in Sundargarh district’s Nuagan block caved in on Thursday.
The limestone mine owned by TISCO had been abandoned a longtime ago. Consequently, locals started collecting limestone powder from the mine.
According to reports, one Sadananda Surin (20) and Arabinda Lugun of Hatibari had gone to the mine to collect limestone powder. While they were inside, a portion of the mine caved in. Some locals rushed to the spot and took the two to the primary health centre (PHC) at Hatibari.
But as there was no doctor, the two injured were kept at the hospital verandah for about an hour. Sadananda succumbed to his injuries during this period. This triggered tension with irate locals locking the main gate of the PHC and staged a dharna.
Apprehending law and order, the local administration deployed police force at the PHC.
Till reports last came in, the injured patient was admitted to the PHC after the arrival of a doctor.