Dhanbad: At least three people were killed and several others were feared trapped after a portion of earth caved in at an illegal coal mine at Keshalpur Kumhapatti in Dhanbad’s Katras on Sunday.The incident occurred around 7 am, triggering panic as several people were reportedly inside illegal mining tunnels when the land collapsed.Locals said men and women routinely entered the illegal pits to extract coal, which was later transported and sold through motorcycle-borne dealers. On Sunday morning, while mining was under way, a large portion of soil suddenly gave way, burying several people under the debris.Locals identified two of the deceased as Munia Devi, a resident of Kevatkuli, and Dhananjay Kumar of Belonjabad. They claimed a third person had also died, but the identity was yet to be ascertained. The exact number of casualties and those still trapped underground could not be confirmed till the filing of this report.Three people were reportedly rescued by residents soon after the cave-in. Using spades, pickaxes and other basic tools, locals removed debris and searched for those trapped.“Two people were pulled out after considerable efforts, but they were unresponsive. They were taken to a nearby hospital on motorcycles, where doctors declared them dead,” said a resident.Vimlesh Chaubey, regional president of the National Colliery Workers’ Union, reached the spot soon after the incident. He claimed that three people had died and several others remained trapped inside the collapsed mine. Chaubey demanded compensation for the victims and the injured, besides rehabilitation for families affected by illegal mining.District administration officials and local police reached the site and launched a rescue operation. Dhanbad deputy commissioner Aditya Ranjan said officials and police were immediately sent to the spot after receiving information about the incident.Dhanbad SDO Lokesh Barange was also present as rescue personnel searched multiple locations and removed debris to ascertain whether more people were trapped.Dhanbad SSP Prabhat Kumar said police had registered two FIRs related to coal theft at Ramkanali police station and conducted four raids over the past three days. Five motorcycles, several bicycles and stolen coal were seized, he said. “Police are sensitising residents against coal theft, illegal mining and entering dangerous mining pits,” Kumar said.Bharat Coking Coal Ltd management did not issue an immediate statement. Attempts to contact BCCL CMD Manoj Kumar Agrawal and PRO Abhishek Mishra were unsuccessful.CISF said in a press release that information about illegal mining in the area had already been conveyed to local police and the SSP on Sept 9.Officials said the exact circumstances leading to the collapse, along with the number of people trapped or killed, would become clear after the rescue operation and investigation.
