4 dead, more feared trapped after illegal coal mine collapses in Jharkhand
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Ramgarh: At least four people have died and several others are feared trapped after a portion of an abandoned coal mine collapsed during alleged illegal mining activities in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district, police said on Saturday.
The incident took place in the early hours at the Karma area under Kuju Outpost. According to Ramgarh Sub-Divisional Police Officer Parmeshwar Prasad, four bodies have been recovered from the accident site so far. However, another official revealed that villagers had taken away three of the bodies before police arrived.
Relief and rescue operations have been ongoing since morning, led by the district administration. Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar confirmed that the mishap occurred in an abandoned mine belonging to Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL).
“The company has its own security personnel to prevent such illegal activities. We extended our support to CCL as soon as we received information about the incident,” Kumar said.
Protests erupted near the CCL Karma Project office, where a section of villagers gathered to express their anger over the tragedy.
Kuju Outpost in-charge Ashutosh Kumar Singh said that more people are suspected to be trapped inside the collapsed mine. He confirmed that some villagers had been engaged in illegal coal mining at the site.
Jharkhand BJP President and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi called for a high-level investigation into the incident. Expressing sorrow over the deaths, Marandi stated on social media platform X, “I am deeply saddened by this news. Many of our labourer brothers are feared to be buried in illegal coal mines. I pray to god for their safety and express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”
He further alleged that the tragedy was not a mere accident, but the result of government negligence. “This is not an accident, it is murder. The corrupt and incompetent government continues to ignore the illegal business being carried out in broad daylight,” he claimed.
Marandi also accused the coal mafia of reopening the mine that had previously been sealed by CCL.
With PTI inputs
