An illegal coal mine collapsed in the Katras area of Dhanbad on Sunday, September 13, killing at least two people and injuring several others.
The accident occurred around 7 am in Keshalpur Kumharpatti, in the Ramkanali police outpost area, when the upper part of a tunnel caved in.
Reports differed on the toll, with a labour union leader saying three had died and another report counting two women among the dead.
Villagers began digging out survivors with spades and pickaxes before police reached the spot.
Locals feared more people might remain trapped under the debris as rescue work continued.
The collapse happened on Sunday, September 13, at around 7 am in Keshalpur Kumharpatti, in the Ramkanali police outpost area of Katras.
Men and women had entered an illegal mine tunnel to cut and collect coal when the upper portion of the tunnel suddenly caved in.
Nearby villagers rushed to the spot and began removing debris using spades and pickaxes before police arrived.
Police reached the site and began investigating the circumstances of the accident.
Reports differed on the toll: a labour union leader quoted by PTI said three people were killed, while AajTak reported the deaths of two women.
Several others were reportedly injured, and three injured workers were said to have been taken to a nearby nursing home.
Locals feared more people could still be trapped under the debris, and rescue efforts were continuing when the first reports were filed.
Illegal coal mining, often done in abandoned or unauthorised tunnels, has long been a safety and law-and-order concern in the Dhanbad coalfield.
Coal from such unauthorised mines is reportedly carried and sold in nearby markets, often on motorcycles.
Collapses in unauthorised tunnels are hard to prevent because the workings are unsupported and unmapped.
The incident has renewed calls from labour groups for stronger enforcement and for alternative livelihoods for people who depend on illegal mining.
Coal mine in Dhanbad (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
