Dhanbad, Sept. 6: Dozens of coal officials and trade union leaders gathered here on the third anniversary of the Nagda mines disaster today. They paid tribute to the victims of the incident here at the martyr memorial inside the colliery.

The programme began at 10.30am with BCCL director (personnel) P.E. Kacchap offering floral tributes. Others, including colliery manager U.K. Dubey, also paid floral tributes.

More than 50 workers had been trapped inside a mine 470 metres below the ground when a coal roof collapsed after a huge explosion followed by a fire caused by coal-bed methane gas and a gush of the poisonous carbon monoxide on September 6, 2006.

Addressing the gathering today, veteran Marxist leader A.K. Roy said that the incident took place as a result of the lackadaisical attitude of the management towards the incident.

“Our union had cautioned the colliery management about the incident before it happened,” he said. He also expressed concern over the colliery management’s decision to not make the reports of the court inquiry public.

Central industrial trade union leader S.K. Baxi, who was present at the colliery today, demanded the opening of the closed mines of the factory.

Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Union leader O.P. Lal and A.K. Jha, along with trade union leaders Dhullur Mahto, Jaleshwar Mahto and Jainul Ansari, also spoke during the occasion.