The Department of Geology & Mining, Government of Nagaland, has said that it is trying to control illegal coal mining in the State. It asserted its readiness to assist and support coal miners and stated that it expects cooperation from miners in this regard and urged miners to follow the guidelines of mining method so that mine accidents can be averted.

The department made these statements in its press release on the fire incident in an illegal rat hole mine in Ruchayan (Ruchan) village in Bhandari, Wokha, where six miners were charred to death inside the mine while four were injured. The incident happened on 25th January 2024.

“The cause of the accident was due to fire and explosion of methane gas which might have occurred due to frictional spark while using portable handheld drilling machine”, the Department announced.

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It informed that a team of officials from the Directorate visited the mining site on 26 January 2024 to assess the cause of the accident and on inspection and as per the record of the department, the mine was an illegal mine (Rat hole mine 4ft x 4.5ft) being operated by locals in collaboration with some non locals.

Police arrested co-owners, Moyithung Tungoe and Tsenjamo Mozhui, on 26th January, however, the other two co-owners, Akjur Ali and Saiful Ali, both from Doyalpur in Assam’s Golaghat district, were said to be absconding.

Read more: Ruchayan coal mine tragedy: Co-owners arrested, two absconding

Earlier, the Police had informed that the rat hole coal mine at Ruchayan or Ruchan village had been operative since September 2023 and that no safety measures were in place.

The Department of Geology and Mining, through its press release, expressed sadness over the loss of lives and extended its condolences to the bereaved families. It further wished the injured miners a speedy recovery.