kulda

OST Bureau
 Rourkela, Aug 30

The clandestine visit of the Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS) to the dumping yard of Kulda opencast coalmine of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) has raised doubts over the impartiality of the investigation.

It may be noted that 11 people were killed when a portion of the dumping yard caved in on August 10.

While the DGMS has been entrusted with the investigation into the incident, it is not yet known why his visit to the mishap site has been kept a secret.

When asked about the visit of the DGMS to the mishap site, MCL general manager (Basundhara-Garjanbahal area) AK Singh said the DGMS Satish Kumar had rushed to the site from Chaibasa on the day the mishap had taken place and returned the next day after a preliminary investigation. The DGMS would visit the site again, he said.

Locals have expressed resentment about the fact that DGMS did not meet the family members of the deceased, people of Balinga village, eyewitnesses of the mishap and the local administration during his visit to the mishap site.

Fearing action if it is proved that the mishap was due to the negligence of the MCL authorities, the senior officials of the Coal India subsidiary are now in a state of panic.