A devastating incident occurred in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand, resulting in the deaths of nine miners due to a mine collapse during illegal coal mining. The accident took place in the Jamunia area, under the jurisdiction of the Baghmara police station. Rescue operations are currently underway at the site. The identities of the deceased miners are yet to be confirmed, and the incident has created an atmosphere of panic in the region.
JDU MLA Saryu Roy shared on X that nine miners had died in a mine collapse during illegal mining in Jamunia, Dhanbad. He further stated that the illegal mining mafia were engaged in disposing of the bodies of the deceased. He has notified the Dhanbad SSP about the situation. According to an eyewitness, Chun Chun, a mining mafia member, was conducting illegal mining with considerable protection.
BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdev also commented on the incident, expressing that information suggests that illegal mining in Baghmara, Dhanbad, has resulted in fatalities. He said that illegal mining is at its peak in the state under the current government, leading to frequent mine collapses in Dhanbad. He mentioned past incidents in Nirsa, Tetulmari, and Kalubathan, where miners tragically lost their lives. He expressed sorrow over the recent deaths of nine miners.
He further called for a CBI investigation, labeling the deaths as institutional murders perpetrated by the state government. He argued that the government is aware of the illegal mining but fails to act, which he considered a form of murder. He demanded action against the relevant police authorities. This is not the first time such incidents have occurred.
Just fifteen days prior, on July 5, four people were killed in a mine collapse during illegal mining at the CCL’s Karma project in the Kuju police station area of Ramgarh district, Jharkhand. Four others were injured. The deceased were identified as Nirmal Munda, Wakil Karmali, Imtiaz Khan, and Rameswar Majhi. The illegal coal extraction was being carried out by villagers at the open pit mine of CCL’s Karma project near Mahuatungri in the Kuju police station area. The four deaths were a result of the mine collapsing, burying them under the debris.