Local
Illegal mining tragedy in Dhanbad renews safety concerns
An illegal coal mine collapsed in Katras, Dhanbad, on September 13, killing at least two people, with reports of up to three deaths and others feared trapped, renewing concern over illegal mining.
A fatal collapse at an illegal coal mine in Katras, Dhanbad, has renewed concern over unauthorised mining in the coalfield.
The accident happened on September 13 at Keshalpur Kumharpatti, killing at least two people.
Illegal tunnels are unsupported and unmapped, making collapses hard to prevent.
Police have started investigating, and rescue work was reported to be continuing.
Reports of the death toll ranged from two to three.
Reports differed on the toll: a labour union leader quoted by PTI said three people were killed, while AajTak reported the deaths of two women.
Several others were reportedly injured, and three injured workers were said to have been taken to a nearby nursing home.
Locals feared more people could still be trapped under the debris, and rescue efforts were continuing when the first reports were filed.
Illegal coal mining, often done in abandoned or unauthorised tunnels, has long been a safety and law-and-order concern in the Dhanbad coalfield.
Coal from such unauthorised mines is reportedly carried and sold in nearby markets, often on motorcycles.
Collapses in unauthorised tunnels are hard to prevent because the workings are unsupported and unmapped.
The incident has renewed calls from labour groups for stronger enforcement and for alternative livelihoods for people who depend on illegal mining.
Dhanbad is often called India’s coal capital and sits on the Jharia coalfield, one of the country’s most important coking coal reserves.
Legal mining in the region is carried out by Bharat Coking Coal Limited, a Coal India subsidiary, while illegal miners often work in abandoned or unsupervised workings.
The first reports of the accident did not mention any arrests, and police said their investigation into the circumstances had only just begun.
Jharkhand has seen repeated accidents at illegal mines in past years, which is why labour groups keep raising safety concerns.
Coal mine in Dhanbad (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0