DIMAPUR: A fire and explosion of methane gas caused the accident in a rat-hole mine in Ruchayan village of Wokha district in Nagaland on Jan 25, leading to the death of six labourers and injuries to five others, the Nagaland geology and mining department said on Thursday.
Kenyelo Rengma, director of the department, said that the fire and methane gas explosion could have occurred due to a frictional spark when a portable handheld drilling machine was used by the miners. A team of officials from the department visited the site to assess the cause of the accident, Rengma stated.
On inspection and as per records , the accident site was an illegal rat-hole coal mine measuring 4 feet by 4.5 feet, Rengma said.
Kenyelo Rengma, director of the department, said that the fire and methane gas explosion could have occurred due to a frictional spark when a portable handheld drilling machine was used by the miners. A team of officials from the department visited the site to assess the cause of the accident, Rengma stated.
On inspection and as per records , the accident site was an illegal rat-hole coal mine measuring 4 feet by 4.5 feet, Rengma said.