Worker feared dead after falling into burning abandoned coal mine in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh

Contractual worker fell into burning abandoned coal mine in Ramgarh during firefighting efforts; rescue operation underway by NDRF
Underground fire began April 20; authorities working to contain blaze and prevent spread to densely populated Bhuchungdih village
Central Coalfields cooperating with state authorities despite mine being outside active operations to control fire and ensure safety

A contractual worker, Ravindra Mahto, is feared dead after falling into an underground fire at an abandoned coal mine in Ramgarh district, Jharkhand. The incident took place near Bhuchungdih village in the Rajrappa police station area when the land subsided suddenly on Tuesday, causing Mahto to fall into the burning mine. Mahto was part of the team engaged in firefighting operations to control the mine fire.

The underground fire in the abandoned coal mine began on April 20. Rescue operations led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) started on Tuesday night following the accident. However, Ramgarh Deputy Commissioner Chandan Kumar stated that the rescue team has indicated there is little chance of recovering the body due to the hazardous conditions inside the mine.

Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) General Manager for the Rajrappa area, Kalyanji Prasad, confirmed that firefighting efforts are ongoing under the direction of state authorities. He added that although the burning mine is not part of CCL’s active operations, the company is cooperating fully with the administration to prevent the fire from spreading to the nearby densely populated Bhuchungdih village.

Efforts to contain the fire continue amid concerns about the stability of the land above the mine and the safety of residents in the surrounding area. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as the firefighting operations proceed to control the underground blaze and minimize any further damage.

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Jharkhand coal mine fire