Wokha Police inspects the rat hole mine in Ruchayan village under Wokha district where a fire killed six workers and injured four on January 25. (Morung photo)
Morung Express News
Wokha | January 26
Six people workers were killed and four injured following an accident at a coal mine at Ruchayan village under Wokha district on January 25. The incident occurred around 1 pm when the workers were digging inside the rat-hole mine when a fire killed six of them and injured four. All the six deceased hail from Sonapur, Assam.
Additional SP, Wokha informed The Morung Express that the cause of fire and subsequent explosion is suspected to be from a short circuit as the miners were using rock breakers inside the mine. He said the injured were immediately shifted to Olive Hospital, Dimapur for further medical treatment. A compensation of Rs one lakh each was assured to the deceased family members.
The deceased were identified as Majibul Ali (46), Kamal Bahadur Chetry (47), Bishal Thapa (28), Dol Bahadur Chetry (44), Bikram Rai (28) and Kharka Bahadur Chetry (60). The injured are Santosh Chetry (23), Ramesh Chetry (36), Bhupen Rajbangshi (34) and Loknath Chetry (27).
The Additional SP further informed that the coal mine is co-owned by 4 persons namely Moyithung Tungoe, Tsenjamo Mozhui, Akjur Ali and Saiful Ali. Taking into account the severity of the incident, a suo moto case has been registered at Bhandari PS under appropriate sections of the law, he said adding two persons have been arrested while the other two co-owners from Assam are absconding.
