UditVani,Jamshedpur: A tragic incident unfolded late Friday night in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district, where a section of an abandoned mine collapsed during illegal coal mining activity.
The mishap occurred in the Karma Project-Sugiya zone of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), leaving at least 8 to 10 people feared trapped under the debris.
According to early reports, the mine had been officially shut by CCL just days earlier. However, despite its closure, unauthorised mining activity allegedly continued.
The fatal collapse took place while illegal miners were reportedly inside the mine, attempting to extract leftover coal.
Eyewitnesses said the incident triggered panic and chaos in the surrounding areas. A large number of local villagers rushed to the site upon hearing of the collapse.
Soon after, officials from the district administration and CCL reached the location and launched a rescue operation. However, the exact number of people trapped or their conditions remain unknown as of now.
Preliminary investigations point towards negligence on part of the mining authorities. Sources indicate that blasting work had been conducted recently in the open-cast mine, and despite heavy rainfall, the site was allegedly left unsecured.
Locals are believed to have entered the vulnerable area in search of coal, unaware of the looming danger.
The incident has stirred deep anger and concern among residents, raising fresh questions about the enforcement of mine safety regulations and the growing menace of illegal mining in Jharkhand’s coal belt.
Rescue efforts are underway as officials work against time to locate and retrieve those possibly buried beneath the collapsed section.
