CURCHOREM: In a tragic accident a ripper machine along with the operator Manoj Naik, a resident of Khandepar-Ponda fell from a height of around 80 meters and buried in the mining pit while excavating ore, at Sesa Goa Vedanta mine at Codli-Dabal on Saturday.
According to Curchorem PSI Sanit Kavlekar, the police received a call from the company’s officials informing about the incident and they immediately with the crew of the Fire and Emergency Services reached at the site and started search operation and found the ripper machine inside the mining pit which cannot be seen from above the surface.
It is learnt that operator Naik is missing and feared dead since the excavation work was in progress at the time of incident.
Curchorem PI Ravindra Desai informed that late night search and rescue operation was in progress by the Fire Service team led by Curchorem Fire Station Officer Shailesh Gude and also the service of navy divers was called in.
Dharbandora Deputy Collector Prashant Shirodkar, Canacona Deputy Collector Raju Desai, Dharbandora Mamletdar Laxmikant Kuttikar and Dy SP Uttam Raut Dessai were present at the scene.
A Sesa Goa official said, “One of our workers slipped into the pit during his normal activity of dozing. All efforts are now focussed on the rescue operation.”
Mines Manager Joseph Coelho informed that the ripper machine along with the operator fell into the pit due to collapse of edge of the ground when he was levelling it and another jeep of the company which was parked nearby also fell inside the pit.
