Electronic gas detectors have retired canaries from a dangerous job they had been doing in the coalmines of the Kothagudem region of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd. here. With the company introducing state-of-the-art handheld gas detectors with sensors and alarm systems for deep excavation, the birds are no longer called in to play the role of an early-warning system for carbon monoxide and other toxic gases in the mines.
The rapid breathing rate, small size and high metabolism of the canaries make them die before miners do on inhaling toxic gases. The men can then be quickly evacuated. The canaries used to be carried in cages and miners had to look for distress signs in the birds.
With the advent of a range of portable electronic toxic gas detectors, the canaries became mere ceremonial entities in some of the mines a few years ago. The gas detectors have helped retire them in Kothagudem.
The company has dispensed with the old system as canaries have become a fast dwindling species. Animal rights activists raised objections to the use of the birds, sources said.
The electronic gas detectors are immensely useful in constantly monitoring the presence of dangerous gases inside the mines, says Ramana Reddy, in-charge, Mines Rescue Station of the company. Ten detectors, some of them multi-gas detectors, were allotted to the VK 7 underground mine in the Kothagudem area following safety provisions envisaged by the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1957.
The gadgets are capable of detecting harmful gases with greater perfection and alerting the coal miners with a 90-decibel alarm which can be heard within a radius of five to 10 metres inside the mine.
