Dhanbad mine collapse
Dhanbad/Giridih/Ranchi, July 24: 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, 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 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. (PTI)
