Three labourers were crushed to death and as many others were injured in a coal mine in South Garo Hills when the makeshift lift they descended snapped midway resulting in the tragedy, police said today.
The labourers identified as Nur Muhammed, Mominul Islam and Mukul Hussain, along with three others were descending in the coal pit in Era Aning area of South Garo Hills when the accident took place in the afternoon on March 10, they said.
Police said the three died on the spot while the other three sustained injuries.
Earlier, in January, six coal miners were crushed to death in two similar accidents in Jaintia Hills region when cables of coal-laden trolleys snapped mid-way at the deep coal pits.
In July last year, as many as 15 coal labourers were trapped inside a mine in Nangalbibra in South Garo Hills. Rescue and search operations continued for days but the bodies remained untraceable.
"The safety measures for coal labourers have not been implemented by the coal mine owners despite the increase in the number of deaths of mine workers," noted human right activist D D G Dympep said.
