In reaction, Madhya Pradesh unit of the Bhartiya Koyala Khadan Majdoor Sangh (BKKMS) has now demanded an immediate review of safety measures in the Pench area and the Pench Kanhan coal mines, which employ around 13,000 people.
No political leader from the state or the Centre has yet approached the families of the deceased. Reports have also surfaced that old workers are engaged in dangerous work like roof drilling, bolting and shot-firing.
Sources said negligence of safety measures had claimed many lives during the past year in the Pench project of Western Coal Field Mines.
The three workers had died on the spot due to "roof collapse", putting a question mark on the safety measures adopted in these mines, which were started during the British era.
OP Singh, general manager, WCL, Parasia (Pench region), said, "Accidents are unavoidable in the Pench mines as we have not recruited people since 1972. The staff is too old to perform proper duties, which require comparatively younger people. But safety measures should have been adopted to prevent accidents. We are investigating the matter and a stern action will be taken against the guilty. This was the fourth casualty in a year." He added the company paid Rs 30 lakh to each family of the deceased.
Sources in the mines said absence of proper supervision and modern technology posed a threat to thousands of workers. Besides, the machinery is too old, they said.
A mine worker told Business Standard, "During the nigh shift, at 6 am, a shot-firer, an over-man and an under-manager were deployed for drilling in the seven-level roof of the Bishnupuri mines. The workers, Dasharath (40), Sarwan (57) and Patiraj (57), were drilling to make holes in the roof to grout