Nagaland: ‘Methane gas explosion caused Wokha coal mine accident’

DIMAPUR: A fire and explosion of methane gas caused the accident at a rat-hole coal mine in Ruchayan village under Bhandari sub-division of Wokha district in Nagaland on January 25, leading to the death of six labourers and injury to five others, said the Nagaland geology and mining department.

The director of the department, Dr Kenyelo Rengma, in a release, said the fire and explosion of methane gas could have occurred due to a frictional spark while using a portable handheld drilling machine.

He stated that a team of officials from the department visited the mining site to assess the cause of the accident.

Rengma said on inspection and as per the record of the department, the coal mine was an illegal rat-hole mine of 4 feet by 4.5 feet which was being operated by locals in collaboration with some non-locals.

About 70km from Dimapur, the mine is located at an elevation of 252 m AMSL (above mean sea level), he said.

Saying that the geology and mining department was trying to control illegal coal mining in the state, Rengma said the department is always ready to assist and support coal miners.

However, he said, the department accordingly expects the miners to cooperate with it and follow the guidelines of mining methods to avert mine accidents in the future.

The department expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and wished speedy recovery to the injured.