Pandabeshwar: All 12 miners trapped underground at a coal mine in West Burdwan’s Pandabeshwar were rescued early on Tuesday after a night-long operation. “All of them are safe. There has been no casualty,” Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) chairperson and managing director Satish Jha said.In a statement, ECL said the mishap took place around 6.30 pm on Monday at pit No. 4 of Kumardihi ‘A’ Colliery following a winding engine malfunction.The workers were stranded in two lifting cages at a depth of around 50 metres after a rope slipped out of the pulley drum, disrupting the mechanism used to transport the miners.“Immediate efforts were initiated to restore the winding engine, while food, drinking water and other essential supplies were provided to the stranded miners through alternative arrangements to ensure their well-being during the operation,” ECL said.The winding engine was successfully restored at 5.45 am on Tuesday, following which all 12 miners were brought to the surface. All rescued miners are reported to be in good health.Mintu Banerjee, secretary of Hind Majdur Sabha, Bankola area, said: “We demand the safety and security of colliery workers and need proper maintenance of winding engine and drum as per DGMS rules.”
