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Suspected Naxalites stormed into the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) facility in restive Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh and set conveyor belt on fire late Tuesday night.
The incident had badly disrupted the production of country’s largest iron ore producer and exporters. Of the three mechanized mines that NMDC operates, two are located in Dantewada district.
The rebels set conveyor belt no. 29 in Bacheli project that shares company 60 per cent iron ore production. The plant was closed on account of Vishwakarma Puja and hence no casualty to life was reported in the incident when Naxalites struck at around 2.30 am on the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday.
The officials said over 80 metres of conveyor belt had been damaged in the fire that had halted the production in the project.
The NMDC officials said about 20,000 tonnes of iron ore was transported through the conveyor belt every day that had now come to a standstill.
The company officials said efforts were on to resume the operations partially by Friday.
The exact loss caused to the company would be ascertained later, they added.
