It blamed the mine authorities -- Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Limited (BCMCL),-- for certain lapses in the mine operation, and recommended measures to avoid recurrence of such accidents.

High temperature and excessive humidity, absence of efficient rescuers and lack of monitoring system led to the April 26 incident that claimed the life of mining consultant Albert Banes Davis, said the probe report submitted to Petrobangla on Tuesday.

Davis, 62, died 430 metres underground in the mine.

The three-member probe body was formed by Petrobangla, parent organisation of the BCMCL, on April 27. It was asked to submit its report within seven days but it took 11 days to do the job.

The probe report recommended that Chinese developer of the mine CMC and the BCMCL should take measures to maintain a standard temperature and humidity in the mine. Otherwise, more accidents might occur, it warned.

It confirmed that during the April 26 incident, temperature was 40 to 42 degrees Celsius in the mine, and suggested steps to keep the temperature within 30 to 33 degrees Celsius.

The probe body noted that the mine authorities failed to maintain either ideal temperature or humidity in the mine.

Considering the high temperature in the mine, the report recommended curtailing working time of the 600 mine workers to less then seven hours a day. It also advised mandatory physical fitness certificate of all workers.

It said BCMCL failed to appoint a mining inspector as required under the Coal Mine Act, 1923 to monitor mining activities, and recommended appointing one.

The report suggested installing high-powered wireless equipment for intra-mine communication and forming an efficient rescue team of the BCMCL alongside CMC rescue team.

The probe body pointed out that the mine workers do not have life insurance coverage, and suggested introducing this for all of them.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Abdur Rashid Khan, chairman of Petrobangla, held several meetings with CMC officials at the mining site and returned to Dhaka yesterday.