India
At least four people have been confirmed dead and several others are feared trapped after a portion of an abandoned coal mine collapsed during suspected illegal mining in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district, officials said on Saturday.
The incident occurred in the early hours at the Karma area under the Kuju Police Outpost. “Four bodies have been recovered from the accident site,” confirmed Ramgarh SDPO Parmeshwar Prasad. However, according to another official, villagers took away three of the deceased before the police could arrive.
The mine, previously operated by Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), had long been abandoned. Yet, reports suggest that illegal mining was being carried out by local villagers at the time of the collapse. Kuju Outpost in-charge Ashutosh Kumar Singh said that more individuals could still be trapped under the debris and a rescue operation has been ongoing since morning.
Ramgarh SP Ajay Kumar said, “This is an abandoned mine under CCL, and they have their own security to monitor such activities. We were informed later and extended full cooperation in the rescue.”
The incident sparked protests, with a section of villagers staging demonstrations outside the CCL Karma Project office. Anger on the ground has also spilled into the political arena.
Jharkhand BJP President and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi called the incident “not an accident but murder.” He alleged government negligence and inaction toward illegal mining rackets. “This is the result of a corrupt and incompetent administration that allows illegal mining to flourish in broad daylight,” Marandi posted on X. He also claimed that while the mine was shut by CCL, coal mafias had reopened it for illicit operations.
As rescue teams continue their search, the tragedy highlights the deadly risks posed by unregulated mining and the urgent need for stricter enforcement.
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