Four Dead in Jharkhand Coal Mine Collapse: Illegal Mining Thrives Amid Official Apathy
At least four people have lost their lives, and several others are feared trapped following the collapse of a portion of an abandoned coal mine during an illegal mining operation in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday in the Karma area under the Kuju Police Outpost, once again drawing attention to the rampant and often unchecked menace of illegal mining operations that continue across various parts of India.
According to Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Parmeshwar Prasad, four bodies were recovered from the site, but villagers reportedly removed three of them before law enforcement could arrive. Rescue and relief operations were launched early in the morning by the district administration in collaboration with the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), which owns the now-defunct mine.
Ramgarh Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar confirmed that the mine involved in the incident had been officially declared abandoned by CCL. “The company has its security forces to prevent illegal mining. Our police team responded promptly once the matter was reported,” he stated.
Despite security provisions, local villagers reportedly entered the site for unauthorized extraction of coal—a practice that has become all too common in not just Jharkhand, but many other resource-rich states in India.
Police officials suspect more individuals may still be trapped under the debris. Kuju Outpost in-charge Ashutosh Kumar Singh said, “This is a case of illegal mining. Unfortunately, such activities continue unabated in several areas.”
The tragedy has sparked outrage among residents, with some staging protests near the CCL Karma Project office. The public anger underscores the deeper malaise surrounding illegal mining operations in the country, where collusion, negligence, and administrative indifference have allowed such extractive practices to flourish.
Illegal Mining: A National Problem with Local Complicity
The Ramgarh incident is far from isolated. Across India, from coal mines in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to illegal silica sand mining in Uttar Pradesh and riverbed extractions in Rajasthan, the exploitation of natural resources through unauthorized means is a thriving underground economy.
This shadow industry is often conducted in full view of local authorities, yet little is done to curb it. The reasons range from corruption and political protection to lack of accountability and the lure of easy profits.
In many cases, these illegal activities are controlled by well-organized syndicates or mafias, who not only extract valuable resources without regulation or safety measures but also create severe ecological damage and put lives at risk.
These operations frequently involve local labourers driven by poverty, who pay with their lives when such illegal sites collapse or trigger disasters.
Opposition Slams Government, Demands Probe
Jharkhand BJP chief and Leader of the Opposition, Babulal Marandi, expressed sorrow over the deaths but also issued a scathing criticism of the state’s handling of illegal mining.
“This is not an accident, it is institutional murder,” Marandi wrote on social media. He alleged that despite the mine being officially closed, the coal mafia had resumed operations, openly flouting regulations.
He further claimed that illegal coal mining is part of an organized racket involving multiple actors, including those within the government machinery.
“The government is well aware of these activities. Such large-scale operations cannot function without the tacit support or direct involvement of certain sections of the police and administration,” he added.
Administrative Response and the Need for Accountability
Ramgarh Sub-Divisional Magistrate Anurag Tiwari confirmed that all aspects of the incident are being probed, including the cause of the collapse and the extent of illegal mining activity.
However, such assurances often follow after tragedies, with little structural action or systemic reform.
Experts and civil society groups have long called for stricter enforcement, regular audits of abandoned mine sites, and accountability mechanisms to dismantle the parallel economy driven by illegal extraction of coal, sand, limestone, silica, and other minerals.
Without concrete action, they warn, such disasters will continue to claim lives and degrade India’s already stressed environment.
Conclusion
The Ramgarh mine collapse serves as another grim reminder of how the unchecked business of illegal mining—despite being known to local authorities and stakeholders—continues to endanger lives, exploit natural wealth, and erode the rule of law.
Unless comprehensive measures are taken to root out this nexus of greed, complicity, and silence, India’s mineral-rich regions will remain vulnerable to both ecological degradation and human tragedies.
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