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Judicial inquiry ordered into mine tragedy

The Union government Friday announced a judicial inquiry into the Bagdigi mine tragedy even as rescue teams were fishing out bodies of miners with little chance of finding any survivors.

The new Minister of State for Coal, Syed Shahnawaz Hussein, said "No one will be spared if they are found responsible for the mine accident."

He also announced a hike in compensation to the families of the deceased miners including an ex-gratia payment of Rs 200,000.

Hussein said that the total compensation package for the miners would be up to Rs 900,000 and would cover even funeral expenses and life insurance along with other benefits.

He promised that kith and kin of the deceased miners would be given gainful employment in government.

In all 29 miners are now presumed to be dead including general manager A K Upadhyay and assistant general manager T R Singh. Four bodies have been recovered so far.

While criticising the safety measures adopted at the mine, the minister said adequate precautions had not been taken to prevent the tragedy.

He said that he would visit all mines to check out which mines were unsafe adding that the present tragedy was the result of blasting without maintaining adequate barriers.

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