A potentially catastrophic event in Rajasthan’s Neem Ka Thana district took a hopeful turn on Wednesday, as 14 Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) officials trapped deep within the Kolihan mine were successfully rescued after a mine lift malfunction. However, the incident resulted in the tragic loss of one official, casting a shadow over the otherwise celebratory rescue operation.
The ordeal unfolded on Tuesday evening when a lift carrying 15 individuals, including a vigilance team from Kolkata and mine officials, abruptly plummeted down the mine shaft, believed to be due to a snapped rope, sending it plunging over 1,800 feet.
Prompt action followed the news of the accident, with rescue teams comprising HCL personnel, district administration officials, and emergency medical services swiftly mobilising. A meticulous operation ensued, with the primary focus on safely retrieving those trapped nearly 600 meters underground.
“The rescue operation posed significant challenges due to its depth,” shared a district administration spokesperson. “Our utmost priority was ensuring the safe retrieval of all individuals, and fortunately, we succeeded in rescuing 14 of them.”
Relief swept through the region as word of the successful rescue spread. Upon confirmation of one fatality, a sombre mood was maintained by all. Chief Vigilance Officer Upendra Pandey died from injuries sustained upon falling. The local authorities expressed their deepest condolences to his family.
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A probe is currently being measured by the Directorate General of Mine Safety (DGMS) to discover the immediate reasons behind the failure of the lift cable. The situation has brought to the fore how important it is that strict security measures are put in place alongside constant mechanism inspections within mining sectors.
In their statement, Hindustan Copper Limited expressed sadness and sorrow about the accident as well as the people who lost their lives and promised their cooperation, a comprehensive safety review, and necessary investigations.
Even though the successful rescue serves as a reminder of how important it is to have reliable emergency measures in place and how much effort people put into saving others’ lives, the death of the person who had perished shows why one should always be on guard and there must be stricter safety rules so that such situations don’t happen again.
