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India mine blast 'traps dozens' India mine blast 'traps dozens'
(about 2 hours later)
Authorities in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand have summoned rescuers to search for more than 50 miners trapped inside a coal mine.Authorities in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand have summoned rescuers to search for more than 50 miners trapped inside a coal mine.
They were trapped after an explosion in a mine run by the state-owned Bharat Coking Coal Limited in Bhatdith.They were trapped after an explosion in a mine run by the state-owned Bharat Coking Coal Limited in Bhatdith.
Officials of the coal company say that the chances of survival of the trapped miners were slim.Officials of the coal company say that the chances of survival of the trapped miners were slim.
Jharkhand, which has India's largest coal deposits, has suffered a number of mining accidents in recent years.Jharkhand, which has India's largest coal deposits, has suffered a number of mining accidents in recent years.
The BBC's Salman Ravi in Bhatdith says only five miners who were working at the upper levels of the 460-metre (1500ft) deep mine had come out after an explosion rocked the mine on Wednesday evening.The BBC's Salman Ravi in Bhatdith says only five miners who were working at the upper levels of the 460-metre (1500ft) deep mine had come out after an explosion rocked the mine on Wednesday evening.
This is an unprecedented situation and the chances of their survival are zero Partha Bhattacharya Bharat Coking Coal LimitedThis is an unprecedented situation and the chances of their survival are zero Partha Bhattacharya Bharat Coking Coal Limited
"The explosion was so powerful that I was thrown off my feet and I saw a trolley loaded with coal get ripped apart and break up," said Nunu Lal, a miner who managed to come out."The explosion was so powerful that I was thrown off my feet and I saw a trolley loaded with coal get ripped apart and break up," said Nunu Lal, a miner who managed to come out.
Officials said the cause of the explosion is unclear.Officials said the cause of the explosion is unclear.
Coal firesCoal fires
Rescue work has been badly affected because the high levels of carbon monoxide and methane gas in the mine. Rescue work has been badly affected because of high levels of carbon monoxide and methane gas in the mine.
"This is an unprecedented situation and the chances of their survival are zero," Bharat Coking Coal Limited chairman Partha Bhattacharya told Reuters news agency."This is an unprecedented situation and the chances of their survival are zero," Bharat Coking Coal Limited chairman Partha Bhattacharya told Reuters news agency.
Mine disasters are not uncommon in mineral-rich Jharkhand state, home to a host of old, state-owned coal mines.Mine disasters are not uncommon in mineral-rich Jharkhand state, home to a host of old, state-owned coal mines.
In the Jharia area, where Wednesday's blast took place, mining work has been affected by underground fires that have raged since 1916, reports say.In the Jharia area, where Wednesday's blast took place, mining work has been affected by underground fires that have raged since 1916, reports say.
Experts say the fires have been caused by unscientific and illegal mining.Experts say the fires have been caused by unscientific and illegal mining.
Mine workers have died after mines have collapsed due to flooding in the past.Mine workers have died after mines have collapsed due to flooding in the past.
Accidents also happen when villagers enter abandoned mines to pick up coal - in August, between 30 and 40 people were trapped inside a mine after water from the nearby Damodar river flooded it.Accidents also happen when villagers enter abandoned mines to pick up coal - in August, between 30 and 40 people were trapped inside a mine after water from the nearby Damodar river flooded it.
There have been other accidents when the mines have simply caved in.There have been other accidents when the mines have simply caved in.
The state's worst mine collapse occurred in 1975, when nearly 400 miners were killed.The state's worst mine collapse occurred in 1975, when nearly 400 miners were killed.