A major accident occurred during illegal mining in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand. Nine miners died when a mine collapsed during illegal coal extraction. The incident took place in Jamunia, under the Baghmara police station area. Rescue and relief operations are underway at the site. The identities of the deceased miners have not yet been established, and the incident has caused a stir in the area.
JDU MLA Saryu Roy posted on X, stating that nine miners died in a mine collapse during illegal mining in Jamunia, Dhanbad. He added that the illegal mining mafia is attempting to dispose of the bodies of the deceased. He has informed the Dhanbad SSP about the incident. According to eyewitnesses, a mining mafia member named Chun Chun was conducting illegal mining with significant protection.
BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdev also responded to the incident, stating that information suggests illegal mining in Baghmara, Dhanbad, has claimed lives. He said that illegal mining is rampant in the state under the current government, leading to continuous mine collapses in Dhanbad. He cited previous incidents in Nirsa, Tetulmari, and Kalubathan, where miners lost their lives. He expressed sorrow over the deaths of nine miners today.
He further demanded a CBI investigation into the matter, calling it institutional murders by the state government. He stated that the government is aware of the illegal mining but takes no action due to the mining mafias, which constitutes murder. He demanded action against the concerned police station in-charge and police officers. This is not the first time that deaths have occurred due to illegal mining.
Fifteen days prior, on July 5, four people died in a mine collapse during illegal mining at the open pit mine of CCL’s Karma project in the Kuju police station area of Ramgarh district, Jharkhand. Four people 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 occurred when the mine collapsed, burying them under the debris.