A devastating incident in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district has resulted in the deaths of nine miners due to a mine collapse during illegal coal mining activities. The accident happened in the Jamunia area, under the Baghmara police station jurisdiction. Rescue and relief operations are currently ongoing. The identities of the deceased miners are yet to be determined, causing widespread panic in the region.
JDU MLA Saryu Roy took to X to report the tragic event, stating that nine miners died due to a mine collapse during illegal mining in Jamunia, Dhanbad. He also mentioned that the illegal mining mafia is attempting to cover up the deaths. He notified the Dhanbad SSP about the incident. According to an eyewitness, Chun Chun, a mining mafia member, was overseeing illegal mining with substantial protection.
BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdev also reacted to the event, stating that illegal mining in Baghmara, Dhanbad, has reportedly claimed lives. He added that illegal mining has reached alarming levels in the state under the current government, which has caused multiple mine collapses in Dhanbad. He brought up past instances in Nirsa, Tetulmari, and Kalubathan, where miners had lost their lives. He conveyed his condolences regarding the nine miners’ recent deaths.
He further called for a CBI investigation, which he described as institutional murders committed by the state government. He suggested that the government is aware of illegal mining but turns a blind eye, enabling mining mafias to operate freely. He demanded action against the involved police station in-charge and police officers. This isn’t the first time such tragedies have occurred.
Just fifteen days earlier, on July 5, four individuals 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 others were injured. The deceased were identified as Nirmal Munda, Wakil Karmali, Imtiaz Khan, and Rameswar Majhi. Villagers were carrying out the illegal coal extraction at the open pit mine of CCL’s Karma project near Mahuatungri in the Kuju police station area. The collapse claimed the lives of the four miners who were trapped under the debris.