Nine Mauvasi Adivasis died in Satna district, after a tunnel they were mining in collapsed on Monday night. The tragedy that took place in the forests near Turra village claimed the lives of six men, two women and a 15-year-old girl.
According to District Collector M.L. Meena, the Adivasis had dug an unauthorised tunnel in an abandoned bauxite mine to dig out white clay which is used for domestic masonry. “They had dug around eight feet and the tunnel collapsed with the weight of the debris overhead killing all of them,” Mr. Meena told The Hindu .
The government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 1 lakh in addition to the Rs. 12,000 assistance given by the district administration.
Superintendent of Police K.C. Jain said the area has been sealed and the incident has been registered as accidental deaths, after the post mortem was completed.
