LITTLE HOPE FOR TRAPPED COLOMBIAN MINERS

19 COAL MINERS DEAD, 53 MISSING IN
COLOMBIA EXPLOSION, GOVERNMENT SAYS

COLOMBIA (CNN) - The death toll in a coal mine explosion in Colombia increased to 19 Friday with the early morning recovery of two more bodies, a state government spokesman said. Authorities held out little hope Friday for the dozens of workers trapped underground after an explosion ripped through a coal mine. At least 50 workers remained unaccounted for a day and a half after the explosion and rescue efforts were moving slowly, impeded by the presence of dangerous gases. Rescue workers also lacked oxygen tanks. Authorities believe a methane gas buildup caused Wednesday night's explosion. The explosion at the San Fernando mine occurred Wednesday around 10:45 p.m. local time (11:45 p.m. ET) in the city of Amaga, in northwestern Colombia. Hope for the trapped miners had dimmed by Thursday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the explosion.

“Because of the explosion, it is considered very improbable” that they survived, authorities said and relatives of those still missing seemed to agree. A survivor described the powerful blast, which officials said was caused by an accumulation of gas. The explosion occurred during a shift change, increasing the number of miners at the site, said Catalina Rico, a spokeswoman for the Antioquia Disaster Prevention and Attention System. Rescue and recovery operations could take three or four days. Authorities had temporarily stopped rescue efforts Thursday due to concerns over an accumulation of gas. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe will visit the disaster area Saturday and meet with family members, he said on the presidential website. “There is immense pain,” Uribe said at a news conference Friday, according to the website.


Apparently, the coal mine was not equipped with gas detectors or gas extractor fans. Colombia needs to implement more safety requirements and increase oversight of the nation’s mines to avoid more accidents. At any moment something terrible can happen to us, so we do not have to waste time and start the spiritual practice without delay.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

“Shubhasya Shighram, ashubhasya kalaharanam”. There is no guarantee that we shall get human birth after our present birth. Why one should take risk. Atleast if you do worship sincerely for some years in the company of Sadhus, the association will not go in vain. That good impression sometimes may not remain permanently - but the momentum of good ideas in the heart will come again with greater velocity. So it is better to start bhajan immediately rather than not doing anything. Take absolute shelter and pray to Nityananda Prabhu and Gauranga Mahaprabhu. They have come to rescue all and give the highest Krishna prema to all, without consideration. Utter their names and pray to Them. It is the nature of Supreme Lord to rescue the surrendered souls. He has said in the Gita (6.40),“Na hi kalyana krit kascid durgatim tata gacchat” - “A sincere soul will never be deceived.”

Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Mahārāja :
Message: “Start bhajan immediately”
Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sreecgmath/message/863