Dhanbad: A tragic tunnel collapse in an illegal coal mine near the Shiva temple close to Kesargarh Jamunia river bridge in Baghmara has left four dead, with fears that several others may be trapped.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, has sparked anger and exposed once again the dangerous and unchecked illegal coal mining in the region.
While police initially denied the incident, the truth began surfacing after locals and activists reached out to the families of the victims. The condition and identities of at least eight more individuals remain unclear, with no official rescue response confirmed as of yet.
Tensions escalated when Giridih MP Chandra Prakash Chaudhary visited the site on Wednesday. He was confronted by alleged coal mafia members, prompting a heated scene, which was later controlled by Katras police station in-charge Asit Kumar Singh. The MP expressed strong dissatisfaction with police inaction, accusing the administration of turning a blind eye to the illegal operations. “I’ll sit here until the rescue team arrives. I even know the names,” he declared at the Baghmara police station.
Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Rai also slammed the administration and accused CISF and local police of being complicit. “This is the third time I’ve stood at the site of such a death. Every time, we witness administrative negligence and the arrogance of the coal mafia,” he said, vowing to raise the matter in the Jharkhand Assembly.
With rising public anger and political pressure, the lack of an official police statement and delayed response has only deepened suspicion over alleged protection being given to illegal mining operators. Both leaders have demanded an immediate crackdown on illegal mining and strict action against guilty officials, warning that public patience is wearing thin.
