Dhanbad/Giridih/Ranchi, Jul 24 (PTI) Confusion continues over the alleged mine collapse incident in Dhanbad, with several leaders claiming multiple deaths, while a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) — deployed to rescue miners from the abandoned coal mine — is yet to begin operations, officials said on Thursday.
The NDRF was mobilised on Wednesday after Giridih MP CP Choudhary staged a dharna at Baghmara police station, demanding immediate rescue operations at the spot.
Jamshedpur West MLA and former Jharkhand minister Saryu Roy alleged a large-scale cover-up to conceal at least 15 deaths in the incident, calling it a case of “people being deliberately buried under fresh soil to destroy evidence.” According to Roy, who visited the Kesargarh area, the ground had been freshly covered with coal stones and soil, and the area was cordoned off by around 15 people allegedly linked to the mining mafia.
On Wednesday, Choudhary had alleged that at least nine workers lost their lives in the incident.
Despite mounting allegations, officials from Dhanbad district administration, BCCL (Bharat Coking Coal Limited), and police claimed that no signs of any such incident have been found so far.
“The rescue operation was yet to start till 6 pm as the team could not reach the spot even after the Giridih MP gave the location in writing to police. Earlier, the Dhanbad administration and BCCL were not able to identify the location,” an NDRF official told PTI.
Choudhary, meanwhile, submitted a list of five people allegedly trapped after the roof of a mine reportedly collapsed during illegal mining activities on Tuesday evening.
Roy alleged that the NDRF team deployed at the site was without necessary equipment, such as JCBs, because of a lack of support from the local administration.
He also accused BCCL and police of aiding illegal mining operations and protecting those responsible.
According to him, extortion is rampant in outsourced coal mines, with Rs 1,600 per tonne reportedly being illegally charged during coal loading, under protection from police and political figures.
He said he will raise the issue in the upcoming monsoon session of Jharkhand Assembly beginning August 5 and also submit a report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
He also questioned why the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), based in Dhanbad, never issued closure notices for abandoned BCCL mines, and demanded accountability for why the sites remain unsecured despite recurring illegal mining activities.
So far, there is no official confirmation about the deaths.
Baghmara SDPO Purushottam Singh told PTI: “NDRF has been inspecting all suspected spots, but so far there has been no sign of any such incident.” Local residents claimed that a closed underground mine in BCCL’s Block-2 caved in, trapping around half-a-dozen hired workers linked to an illegal mining syndicate.
Meanwhile, an eerie silence prevails at Taratand area in Giridih, from where four workers are missing since the alleged mine collapse incident at Baghmara in Dhanbad.
Villagers claimed the four — Aziz Ansari alias Charku Ansari, 35, a resident of Kundalwadah village, Afzal Ansari alias Khan Sahab, 35, Dilip Sahab, 32, a resident of Ambabeda village and Jamshed Ansari, 30, a resident of Mathurasingha village — who had left for Baghmara have not returned so far.
“All four used to work in mines. Dhanbad police did not allow us to go to the site of the incident,” a family member of one of the missing workers said.
Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan on Wednesday told PTI, “We have rushed an NDRF team to the spot suggested, but so far, no sign of any such incident has been found.” “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 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 claimed in a post on X.
On Wednesday, Roy alleged, “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 wrote 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.” “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,” Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo posted on X.
BCCL’s regional nodal security officer Rajiv Ranjan also stated no incident had been reported from the closed underground mine in the Block-2 area.
However, former BIADA chairman and social activist Bijay Jha claimed that the incident had indeed occurred and that access to the site was blocked by illegal mining syndicates on Tuesday night. PTI CORR SAN NAM MNB
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