India Blackout: Bengal Miners Freed, Delhi Airport Running Smoothly

As northern and eastern India reels from the second day of a massive power blackout, some good news was reported amidst all the misery – 200 coal miners who were trapped in a West Bengal mine have been freed.

“All the 200 stuck inside Sodepur and Satgram mines in Burdwan have come out. We arranged emergency power to rescue our trapped miners,” Eastern Coalfields general manager Niladri Roy told Press Trust of India.

However, another 65 miners are trapped in mines in the province of Jharkhand.

“Our 40 miners are trapped inside Bargarh underground mines. Besides there are some 25 miners still stuck in Moonidih, Putki Balgora and Jairampur mines. Rescue operations are on and we are hopeful of bringing them out soon,” said Bharat Coking Coal chief Tapas Kumar Lahiry.

He added that since electric supply has been restored to the area, the trapped miners are receiving food and water.

Separately, Delhi airport has been unaffected by the power blackout as a back-up diesel generator has provided electricity to the facility.

“Flight operations… are absolutely normal and there are no cancellations or delays. The entire power load of the airport was restored within 15-60 seconds,” said an airport spokesperson.

“Diesel power sets are being used to run all facilities at the airport.”

On the second day of the power blackout, an estimated 670 million people in India have been affected.