Even as some bodies are still lying under the debris at the site of Rajmahal Open Coal Mine disaster in Jharkhand, search operations have been suspended because of ‘strata movement’ at the mine.
As per records prepared by the district administration, 23 persons went missing after the accident in the State’s Godda district on December 29.
Five still under debris
Eighteen bodies have been recovered so far, Godda sub-divisional officer Sanjay Kumar said. Five bodies are still buried under the debris.
“All the teams, including those from the NDRF, are on standby. Search operations can start if we can chart out an alternative route,” Mr. Kumar told The Hindu .
Sanjay Singh, general manager Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), Rajmahal, said: “In principle, we have decided to pay compensation to the missing, provided all the formalities by the State government are fulfilled.”
