Mourning Night in Tkibuli - People Remember Deceased Miners
The local population of Tkibuli, a town in west-central Georgia in Imereti region, human right activists and the families of the six miners who lost their lives in Mindeli mine on April 5, gathered last night in the center of the town to remember the six men.
People brought flowers and candles to express their solidarity to the families of the deceased.
Some miners, gathered at the mourning night, stated there are a number of violations in the Mindeli mine which need to be eliminated in order to prevent such tragedies in future.
“The works in the mine should be suspended for a year and the place needs to be modernized,” former miner Lado Jgarkava stressed. "If miners continue to work in such conditions, we will probably see many more dead. The system in the mine is out of date and it needs to be replaced by new technologies."
Dali Mikabadze, the wife of one of the three miners hurt during the accident last week, says that her husband, who has been working in the mine for 30 years, is now in hospital in a grave condition.
Pavle Gamezardashvili (26), Giorgi Bochorishvili (28), Mirza Kurtsikidze (46), Besik Gurgenidze (50), Elguja Bochorishvili (52) and Gogi Rapava (59) lost their lives in the mine on Thursday at 4 am, after the tunnel collapsed on them.
Three injured miners were taken to hospital and their health condition is said to be stable.
According to the Interior Ministry, an investigation has been launched into the case under the second part of Article 240 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which implies a violation of safety rules in mining, construction or other works. The offense envisages up to 5 years of imprisonment.
Coal obtaining company Saknakhshiri reports that the families of the deceased miners will get 20,000 GEL compensation.
On May 9, 2017, 4 miners were killed in the same Mindeli mine after the failure of the freight elevator.
In total, 11 miners have lost their lives in Mindeli mine in Tkibuli in the last two years. However, since 2010, the total amount of deceased in Mindeli mine amounted to 25.
By Thea Morrison
Photo source: Netgazeti
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