Four Bengal workers feared dead in Dhanbad illegal mine collapse

Anil Ashutosh / TNN / Updated: Oct 1, 2023, 11:36 IST

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Four people are feared dead in a land subsidence incident during illegal mining near an abandoned coal patch in Dhanbad, India. The incident occurred on Thursday night, with reports stating that workers were trapped when a portion of the land above the illegal mine collapsed. While some managed to escape, at least six were injured and four are believed to have died. The local police denied having information, but the area management acknowledged the subsidence while refuting claims of casualties.

Four Bengal workers feared dead in Dhanbad illegal mine collapse

Nearly 25 to 30 workers brought from neighbouring West Bengal by an organised gang involved in illegal mining entered the abandoned mine

DHANBAD: Four persons were feared killed in land subsidence during illegal mining near an abandoned coal patch of the Kapasara colliery under the Mugma area of ECL under the Nirsa police station which is about 40 km from the district headquarters here.
The incident reportedly happened on Thursday night.
While the local police denied having any information in this regard, the ECL area management in an official communiqué said there was a subsidence but refuted claims of any casualty in the incident.
According to reports, nearly 25 to 30 workers brought from neighbouring West Bengal by an organised gang involved in illegal mining entered the abandoned mine on the west side of the Kapasara colliery at about 7 pm on Thursday.

When the workers were inside, a portion of the land above the illegal mine collapsed, trapping several of them. While many of them succeeded in coming out, at least six of them are reported to have suffered injuries and four of them allegedly died on the spot, locals said, adding that those injured are being treated privately.
The villagers, however, could not provide details of those injured and dead because they came from West Bengal.

None of the villagers are also willing to come on record about the incident because once the police were informed their whole illegal network of mining would be stopped. Meanwhile, the ECL in an official statement, said a joint survey was conducted on Friday and it was found that a land measuring 17 meters in length subsided creating a 12-metre-deep crater.
Cracks have appeared in the flanks of the area of subsidence but no danger has been caused to anybody, the statement said. The area has an old working irregular pillar and is being fenced and security guards are being deployed to prevent entry, the statement added. It may be noted here that the Kapasara colliery area has witnessed nearly half a dozen incidents of land subsidence in the past year and many have lost their lives during illegal mining. But as has been the practice in the coal belt, no cases are registered in such cases.

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