Chhattisgarh coal mine blast toll rises to six

The death toll in the blast at coal mines of the South Eastern Coalfield Limited in Chhattisgarh's Koria district has risen to six.

SECL Deputy General Manager (Operations), S K Goswami, along with his colleagues, Nirmal Jangde and Radheshyam, were killed and 32 others injured following an air blast at the coal mine at Anjani Hills in Chirmiri area on Thursday.

Of the 32 injured, M P Dixit of SECL said, 16 were shifted to Bilaspur for treatment. Three of the injured undergoing treatment today succumbed to the injuries, he said.

Dixit said six employees are still missing and rescue work has been hampered because of the fire in the mine.

Meanwhile, the state Labour Minister Chandrashekar Sahu said action would be taken if Labour Law was violated in the case.