DANTEWADA, Chhattisgarh (India CSR): Four (4) construction workers lost their lives on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, after a wall they were building collapsed at the National Mineral Development Corporation’s (NMDC) iron ore mine in Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh. NMDC is an Indian public sector undertaking, involved in the exploration of various minerals including iron ore, copper, rock phosphate, limestone, dolomite, gypsum, bentonite, magnesite, diamond, tin, tungsten, graphite, and coal.
Tragedy Strikes at Mine Expansion Project
The incident occurred around 3:00 PM as fourteen workers were constructing a retaining wall as part of the NMDC’s Screening Plant-3 expansion project. According to Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai, a large portion of rock suddenly caved in, trapping four workers beneath the debris.
“On Tuesday afternoon, a tragic incident was reported at a construction site in the Kirandul Complex of NMDC wherein 4 lives were lost due to the collapse of rock fonnations on the hillside. An unpredictable collapse of strata from a 15 meter high and 70 meter length rock fom1ation landed on the workers on the construction site at Screening Plant III.”, NMDC’s official A.S. Pardha Saradhi Executive Director & Company Secretary said.
NMDC manages three advanced iron ore mining complexes situated in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka. In Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, the Kirandul and Bacheli complexes have a combined production capacity of approximately 30 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). The third facility, located in Bellary, Karnataka, is the Donimalai Iron Ore Complex, which has an output of 12 MTPA from its two mines, Kumaraswamy and Donimalai. Additionally, NMDC operates a pellet plant with a capacity of 1.2 MTPA at Donimalai.
Rescue Efforts and Aftermath
Police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel rushed to the scene and launched a rescue operation. Two workers were rescued with injuries, while the search continued for the remaining four. Sadly, the bodies of all four trapped workers were recovered later that evening, identified as Bittu Bala, Tushar Bala, and Nirmal Bala from West Bengal, and Santosh Kumar Das from Bihar.
“Though rescue operations were immediately initiated, 4 contractual workmen could not be rescued alive. Two other contractual workmen who sustained injuries during this incident are being treated at the NMDC Hospital and now out ofham1’s way.”, the company said.
Investigation Launched and Safety Concerns Raised
The Dantewada district collector, Mayank Chaturvedi, has announced an inquiry into the incident to determine the cause of the collapse and identify any potential safety lapses. The tragedy has reignited concerns about worker safety in the mining industry, with calls for stricter safety regulations and improved working conditions for those employed in hazardous environments.
“In adherence to stringent commitment to safety, NMDC is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. In the wake of this unfortunate event, the Senior Management of NMDC extended their deepest condolences and support to the bereaved families.”, the company’s statement said.
Community in Mourning
The incident has cast a shadow of grief over the Dantewada community. The families of the deceased workers are now facing unimaginable loss, while the wider community grapples with the shock and sadness of this tragic event.
Image: NMDC Annual Report
(India CSR)
