Hyderabad: Fifteen bloated bodies of miners, killed due to flooding of an underground coal mine in Andhra Pradesh, were retrieved on June 18 as dewatering operation at Godavarikhani mine to pump out six lakh gallons of water was nearing completion.

"Of the 17 workers trapped inside, we have so far recovered and identified 15 bodies and search is on to trace the remaining. We hope to complete shortly the process of draining out water from the affected mine," a spokesman of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) said.

Seventeen miners met with a watery grave on June 16 while they were engaged in clearing operations at a depth of 110 meters, following a sudden gush of water from one of the coal seams at an underground mine – Seven LEP (Life Extension Project) – in Godavarikhani, about 70 kms from the district headquarter town of Karimnagar.

Though the cause of the mishap, the worst in the 114 year old history of the SCCL, was not known, the state government on June 17 ordered a judicial probe by a sitting high court judge, amidst fears over lack of proper mine safety measures. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also announced an ex-gratia of Rs six lakh for the families of each of the victims.

Soon after the mishap, heavy-duty pumps were pressed into service to drain out nearly six lakh gallons of water that had gushed into the mining area, trapping the miners.

A fissure in one of the coal seams had led to sudden gushing of waters. As a result, a portion of the mine caved in blocking the exit route.

PTI