44 days after they went missing, bodies of two workers found in Assam mine
Guwahati, Feb 19 (PTI): Divers fished out decomposed bodies of two more miners trapped inside a coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district on Wednesday, 44 days after they went missing in the quarry, an official said.
With this recovery, six of the nine miners who had been trapped there on January 6 were found.
Dewatering operation in the mine at Umrangshu has been continuing for over one month. The two highly decomposed corpses were spotted by the divers who went in and brought them out.
The bodies are yet to be identified, the official said.
Nine workers were trapped inside the mine on January 6 and the body of one was recovered two days later while those of three others were found on January 11.
An ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each has been paid by the government to the next of kin of the four miners whose bodies were recovered earlier and Rs six lakh each to the family of those trapped inside.
The state government had announced that the family of all trapped inside the mine would be paid a total of Rs 10 lakh each.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that if the dewatering continues at the current rate, it will take about 25 to 60 days for the process to be completed, and it will continue till a ‘logical conclusion’ is reached.
The chief minister had earlier claimed that the mine was abandoned 12 years ago and was under the Assam Mineral Development Corporation till three years ago.
The state government has also announced a judicial enquiry into the incident, with retired high court judge Anima Hazarika heading the one-person committee.
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KPTCL sets target to complete Kadandale 400 kV power substation project by July 15
Mangaluru (Karnataka) (PTI): The KPTCL has set a target to complete the strategically important Kadandale 400 kV power substation project by July 15, aiming to ensure uninterrupted and quality power supply to the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, officials said on Wednesday.
The target has been fixed by the KPTCL (Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited) following the directions of State Energy Minister K J George, they said.
The project, located at Kadandale village in Moodbidri taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, had remained stalled for nearly three years due to land-related litigation affecting the 400 kV transmission line works, officials said.
However, the hurdles were successfully resolved through the sustained efforts of Energy Minister George and Energy Department Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta, they said.
Following the minister's directions, KPTCL Managing Director Ram Prasath Manohar visited the project site on Wednesday to review the progress of the works, according to an official statement.
"Mangaluru is one of Karnataka's key industrial hubs and requires a reliable and uninterrupted power supply. As directed by the Hon'ble Minister, we are working towards completing the project before the onset of the monsoon and commencing transmission operations at the earliest," Manohar said.
According to officials, the Kadandale 400 kV substation is expected to significantly strengthen the power infrastructure of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, which are major industrial and commercial regions of the state.
Manohar said the project would provide a long-term solution to recurring monsoon-related voltage fluctuations and low-voltage issues in the coastal belt.
"The new substation will improve grid stability and ensure quality power supply to the region. In the event of a technical fault in any one station, load can be quickly diverted through this substation, enabling faster restoration of electricity supply," he explained.
To expedite completion of the project, KPTCL has planned to obtain line clearance on the existing 400 kV UPCL-Hebbanahalli transmission corridor between May 6 and May 24, 2026, the statement said.
During this period, alternative arrangements have been made to manage transmission loads and maintain supply based on demand conditions, it said.
However, officials stated that short-duration load shedding may become unavoidable under technically exigent situations.
"This project is crucial for the long-term energy security of Mangaluru and the coastal region. We request consumers and the public to extend their cooperation during this temporary operational phase," the KPTCL MD stated.
Minister George said that ensuring uninterrupted power supply for the benefit of the public and the industrial growth of the coastal region is one of the government's top priorities.
"Due to certain legal hurdles, the 400 kV transmission line work was delayed. The department has taken special initiative to resolve these obstacles. The Kadandale substation will ensure high-quality power supply for Mangaluru and Udupi regions," he said.
"The department continuously monitored the land-related disputes affecting the project and ensured timely resolution through coordinated intervention. KPTCL has been instructed to complete the works within the stipulated timeline and dedicate the project to public service at the earliest," Gupta stated.
