For the second consecutive day, the coal mining region of the State experienced heavy rains, which had a significant impact on coal production in the open cast mines operated by the Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL).

According to SCCL sources, the daily coal output from all mining areas decreased by approximately 70,000 tonnes, compared to the average daily production of two lakh tonnes.

The SCCL, a State-owned coal mining giant, operates 18 opencast projects and 24 underground coal mines across the State's coal belt region.

The continuous downpour resulted in water stagnation in the open cast mines located in Kothagudem, Manuguru, and Yellandu areas, severely disrupting overburden removal work for the second consecutive day.

Due to the slushy conditions in the surface mining areas, the operation of shovels and other heavy machinery came to a virtual standstill in most of the OCPs (Opencast Projects).

To address the issue of stagnant rainwater, high-capacity motors were deployed at the Gouthamkhani Opencast Project (OCP) in Kothagudem, as well as other OCPs throughout the coal mining region.

In the past 24 hours, it is estimated that the open cast mines in the Yellandu area experienced a loss of around 10,000 tonnes of coal production and were unable to remove about 20,000 cubic meters of overburden.

In response to the challenges posed by incessant rains, the SCCL authorities have devised an action plan to increase coal production in the underground mines during the upcoming peak monsoon season.