Wall Collapse at Jharkhand Coal Mine Claims One Life, Injures Two

A tragic incident occurred on October 26, 2023, in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand, where a wall of an open-cast coal mine collapsed onto an oil tanker, resulting in one fatality and two injuries. The accident took place in the mining area under the jurisdiction of the Putki Police Station, according to local authorities.

The driver of the oil tanker had entered the mine to refill earthmover machines when the sidewall gave way, sending debris crashing onto the vehicle. According to Waqar Hussain, Officer-in-Charge of Putki Police Station, the oil tanker overturned as a consequence of the collapse. Tragically, a staff member of the private mining company, identified as Dipak Pandey, aged 25, was standing near the tanker and was killed in the incident.

The two injured individuals, the driver and the cleaner of the tanker, have been taken to a local nursing home for treatment. They have been identified as Ganesh Mahato and Kishore Mahato. The severity of their injuries has not been disclosed, but medical personnel are currently attending to their needs.

Following the incident, the body of the deceased was transported to the Shaheed Nirmal Mahato Medical College in Dhanbad for a post-mortem examination. In a gesture of support, the private company involved in the mining operations has provided ₹500,000 (approximately $6,050) in cash to Pandey’s family for last rites. Additionally, they issued a cheque of ₹1,000,000 (around $12,100) and extended a job offer to one of the family members on compassionate grounds.

This incident highlights the inherent risks associated with mining operations and raises concerns about safety protocols in such environments. Local authorities are likely to conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse and prevent similar occurrences in the future.