A rescue operation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district is yet to begin as the exact location of a reported mine collapse remains unidentified, officials said on Thursday.
The NDRF team was deployed on Wednesday after Giridih MP CP Choudhary staged a dharna at Baghmara police station, demanding immediate action following reports that miners were trapped during illegal mining in an abandoned coal mine.
Despite allegations and local claims, officials from the Dhanbad district administration, Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and police have maintained that no evidence of a collapse has been found so far.
“The rescue operation could not be started till 1.30 pm as the exact location of the mishap is yet to be found. The Dhanbad administration and BCCL are also not able to identify it,” an NDRF official told the media agency.
Choudhary submitted a list of five people allegedly trapped after the roof of a mine reportedly caved in during illegal mining on Tuesday evening. Local residents claimed that a closed underground mine in BCCL’s Block-2 area collapsed, trapping around half a dozen hired workers associated with an illegal mining syndicate.
Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan told PTI on Wednesday, “We have rushed an NDRF team to the spot suggested, but so far, no sign of any such incident has been found.”
In a post on X, Choudhary claimed, “Nine people were killed when a mine collapsed during illegal coal mining in Kesargarha of Bagmara, and dozens are feared to be trapped. On receiving the information, I immediately reached the spot and inspected it. I reached Bagmara police station and demanded a full investigation of the incident from the administration as soon as possible, and gave strict instructions that until all the dead bodies are rescued and taken out, we will sit here.”
Choudhary further alleged that he was opposed by the coal mafia at the site in the presence of officials. “When such behaviour can happen with a public representative, it is unimaginable what would happen to the common man. Information was also received that the mouth of the mine was closed overnight by the mafia, so that the matter could be suppressed,” he claimed.
The AJSU MP also staged a dharna at the site, demanding rescue operations to recover the miners.
JD(U) leader Saryu Rai said the incident highlighted the failure of the district administration and BCCL management. “Despite heavy deployment of CISF personnel in the colliery for protection of the national property, coal theft and incidents of illegal mining are continuing unabated, which is a matter of concern,” he said.
He posted on X, “Nine labourers have died due to the collapse of an illegal mine at a place called Jamunia in Baghmara, Dhanbad. Illegal mining mafia is engaged in disposing of dead bodies.”
Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo also posted on X, “There are reports of casualties due to illegal mining in Baghmara area of Dhanbad. Attempts are being made to suppress this whole accident on a large scale.”
He urged the Union home minister, coal ministry, Jharkhand chief minister’s office and the police to take note of the incident.
Dhanbad Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar told PTI that a team had been sent to the site, but no trace of any such incident had been found. BCCL’s regional nodal security officer Rajiv Ranjan also said that no incident had been reported from the closed underground mine in the Block-2 area.
However, former BIADA chairman and social activist Bijay Jha maintained that the incident did occur and claimed that illegal mining syndicates blocked access to the site on Tuesday night.
Follow us
