Trapped Indian miners 'rescued'

The mine had been abandoned several years ago

By Subir Bhaumik in Calcutta

Rescue workers in the Indian state of West Bengal say they have pulled out five people from a collapsed coal mine in Asansol.

They said the miners have told them that at least 50 others are still trapped in Ranibandh mine which caved in six days ago.

More than 50 other miners may be trapped

The rescue operation is being conducted by the government-owned Eastern Coalfields Limited which abandoned the mine for safety reasons three years ago.

Its Chief of Mine Safety, Pawan Sharma, told the BBC that five of the miners were rescued on Monday night.

The local police, however, have countered the claim.

The district police chief, B N Ramesh, said rescuers had not found anything so far.

Alleged criminal

Officials from Eastern Coalfields said the rescued miners had told them that they were working for an alleged criminal who was illegally operating the mine.

The miners said workers from at least seven nearby villages were working in the mine when it collapsed last Thursday.

Relatives of many of the trapped miners have been protesting against what they say was delay by the authorities in launching rescue efforts.

Hundreds of people are continuing with demonstrations near the mine fearing the worst for those trapped inside.

Ranibandh is one of nearly 200 mines abandoned by the nationalised coal companies in Bengal's coal producing Asansol-Raniganj region.

Alleged criminal networks make a lot of money by illegally operating these abandoned mines, sending down miners to scout for the last bit of exploitable coal seams.

Locals allege the authorities tend to overlook these operations fraught with risks for the miners because they receive huge bribes.