Guwahati, Nov. 15: Visitors can now have a glimpse of life inside a coal mine at the Regional Science Centre here.

"Visitors can get a rare experience of coal mining, coal-cutting methods, transportation of extracted coal, why tunnels do not collapse after excavation and the safety measures adopted," project coordinator Basudev Mandal told The Telegraph.

The coal mine exhibit, a one-of-its-kind in the Northeast, is spread over 2,000 square feet, he said.

A range of mining and miner safety instruments, including safety masks, self-rescuers, methanometers, explosimeters, anemometers and Davy's safety lamps have been displayed. "The gallery will have automated demonstrations in Assamese, English and Hindi with light and sound synchronisation. Visitors can select their language," Mandal said.

The centre had a smaller coal mine (1,200 square feet) and did not really give the real picture.

The planning, designing and fabrication of exhibits of the gallery has been done under the guidance of Mandal. "The total cost of the exhibit is around Rs 38 lakh. We hope the visitors will enjoy the experience of visiting a coal mine," he said.

"The gallery was created as people are curious about how a coal mine looks like and what happens deep down the earth. But visiting a real one is not only difficult but also restricted to the common people," Mandal said.

The science centre here is the biggest in the Northeast. It recorded a footfall of 4.71 lakh in 2015-16 earning revenue of Rs 90 lakh. Mandal said they were hoping the revenue will cross Rs 1 crore with over 5 lakh footfall this year.

Coal mining is carried out Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and earlier in Meghalaya. But the region accounts for a small percentage of the total coal production.

Coal was first discovered in Assam 250 years ago. Civil surgeon John Berry White played a significant role in the early development of the state's mineral resources and opening of mines at Makum near Margherita in Upper Assam.

Mining started near Safrai and systematic mining was initiated in 1882 by the erstwhile Assam Railways and Trading Company at Makum.

A chief inspector of mines in 1929 had said the coalfields of the region were "where the worst natural conditions of all the coal mines in India have to be faced".