Dhanbad Land Subsidence: Tandabari Villagers Homeless, Seek Urgent Relief

Dhanbad: A couple of days after three people were killed when their house collapsed due to land subsidence, hundreds of residents of Tandabari village in Katras are being forced to spend nights in the open amid fear and a lack of basic amenities.

With their homes rendered unsafe, over 1,000 villagers have taken shelter in nearby temples and school premises, struggling without access to food, water, and essential supplies.

Although the district administration has set up a relief camp in the area, locals allege that it is grossly inadequate. The camp reportedly accommodates only around 50 people, leaving the majority without proper shelter.

Residents claim that even basic arrangements such as bedding, sanitation, and food distribution are missing, making survival difficult. “No senior officer from the district administration has reached here so far to look into the situation,” said Shankar Bhuinya, one of the affected residents. He added that several families have moved in with relatives and friends.

Villagers had expected senior officials to visit the affected area, assess the ground situation, and ensure proper relief measures. However, no representative from the district administration or BCCL has visited Tandabari or nearby areas so far, leading to growing anger among affected families.

“Many are spending nights in fear and uncertainty,” said another villager, accusing the administration of indifference and demanding immediate intervention and comprehensive relief measures.

Deputy development commissioner Sunny Raj said, “We are reviewing the situation and trying to ensure necessary action.”

BCCL, meanwhile, stated that the affected area does not fall under active mining operations and includes private and raiyati land.

The crisis follows Tuesday night’s tragic subsidence incident in Tandabari village, where a house collapsed, killing three people, including a father and his daughter. Three other houses were also damaged, leaving many residents affected.