Jharkhand: Three Dead, Many Feared Trapped After Illegal Coal Mine Collapses In Dhanbad

At least three people are reported to be dead after an illegal coal mine collapsed in Jharkhand's Dhanbad.

Illegal coal mine collpases in Jharkhand's Dhanbad.

Source : Getty Images

At least three people were killed and 14-15 were injured after an illegally operated mine collapsed in Jharkhand's Dhanbad on Friday. The incident occurred at Bhowra Colliery Area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), about 21 km from Dhanbad.

The deceased include a child, a woman and a 25-year-old man. The injured are being treated at a local nursing home.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Sindri, Abhishek Kuma, told PTI that the exact number of people killed can only be known after the rescue operation.

An eyewitness said many local villagers were engaged in illegal mining when a shaft (roof) of the mine suddenly caved in, which led to panic among the people working there.

VIDEO | Visuals from the site in Jharkhand's Dhanbad where at least three people died and many feared trapped after an illegal coal mine collapsed earlier today. pic.twitter.com/ak05QjHouX

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 9, 2023

Jorapokhar Police Station Sub-Inspector Binod Oraon said rescue operations were on.

"This mine comes under Bhowra area. It seems that illegal mining was underway. We are investigating the matter. As of now, we do not have any confirmation regarding the number of deaths," Oraon told ANI.

People present at the spot said many local villagers were engaged in illegal mining when the mine collapsed. Three people were taken out from the debris and taken to the hospital, where the doctors declared them brought dead. 

BCCL's Bhowra Colliery General Manager SS Das, who reached the spot, is monitoring the rescue operations.

An outsourcing company named Devprabha has the licence to mine in BCCL, IANS reported. 

After the accident, angry people protested before the BCCL regional office with the bodies, demanding compensation. The locals alleged that smugglers were getting coal mined illegally in connivance with the CISF and the local police, IANS reported.

Last year, five persons were killed in an abandoned mine of Eastern Coalfields in Gopinathpur area of Dhanbad.