What Happened in Singrauli? Three Lives Lost in Clay Mine Collapse
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Three women lost their lives in a clay mine collapse in Singrauli.
- Two others were injured and are receiving medical treatment.
- The site was likely an unregulated mining operation.
- Authorities are investigating the incident to prevent future occurrences.
- This tragedy highlights the risks of informal mining in rural areas.
Singrauli, Jan 25 (NationPress) A tragic incident in the Kudwar police outpost region, under the Jiawan police station in the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh, resulted in the unfortunate loss of three women, while two others suffered severe injuries.
The disaster unfolded when a mound of earth at an informal clay mining site suddenly caved in, entombing five women who were extracting white clay, locally referred to as "chhui".
The victims, hailing from nearby Parsohar and Harha villages, were reportedly digging for this soft white clay, widely used for various household and traditional applications.
As per information from local police and administrative sources, the group was engaged in manual excavation when the unstable walls of the pit collapsed unexpectedly, burying them under tons of soil.
Villagers, hearing the cries for help, rushed to the site and immediately notified the authorities.
Police personnel, accompanied by local rescue teams, quickly arrived and commenced operations to rescue the trapped women. Despite their efforts, three women were pronounced dead on the scene due to suffocation and crush injuries.
The deceased have been identified as: Preeti Singh, aged 10, Basanti, aged 16, and Phoolmati Yadav, aged 50. The two survivors, Kausalya Singh (50) and Sakmuni Singh (45), were rescued with injuries and transported to the Community Health Centre in Devsar for urgent medical attention.
Both survivors are reported to be in stable condition but are under observation. Police officials stated that the women had entered the mine to gather clay for personal or small-scale use.
Authorities suspect the site might have been an unregulated or abandoned pit, raising safety concerns regarding such informal mining activities prevalent in rural regions.
The police are investigating whether other individuals may have been present or trapped, although initial reports suggest that only these five women were involved. A comprehensive rescue and inspection operation has been initiated by the district administration to evaluate the site and prevent future incidents.
This heartbreaking event underscores the ongoing risks faced by rural communities reliant on unregulated earth extraction for their livelihoods or household needs.
Local officials have called for increased caution and stricter oversight of such sites to prevent similar tragedies. Families of the deceased are receiving immediate support, and an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident is currently underway.