4 illegal miners killed, 4 others injured as abandoned Ramgarh mine caves in | Ranchi News – Times of India

Ramgarh: At least four villagers died and four others were injured when a portion of an abandoned open-cast coal mine owned by Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) collapsed during alleged illegal mining in the Karma project of the Kuju area in Ramgarh district early on Saturday, a senior police officer said.A large quantity of debris from the wall collapsed when several villagers were allegedly digging out coal illegally in a mine located in the Mahua Tungari area of Sugiya village under the Kuju police station here.Meanwhile, activists of the new political party, JLKM, along with hundreds of villagers put three of the four bodies in front of the Karma mining project officer’s office and started a protest since morning, demanding compensation and jobs for the dependents of the victims. SDO (Ramgarh) Anurag Kumar Tiwari confirmed the mine collapse and said four bodies have been recovered, while four others were injured in the incident. CCL authorities have started rescue operations.SDPO (Ramgarh) Parmeshwar Prasad said there was no possibility of any others being trapped as the debris has been removed.Those killed in the mine collapse were identified as Md Imtiyaz, Rameshwar Besra, Wakil Karmali and Nirmal Munda, all hailing from nearby villages, Prasad saidSP Ajay Kumar said they have started an investigation into the incident.CCL Kuju area GM R K Sinha said they have removed debris in a massive rescue operation in coordination with the administration officials.Meanwhile, Hazaribag MP Manish Jaiswal has asked the administration and the state govt to stop illegal mining. Ajsu-P MP from Giridih C P Chaudhary who hails from Ramgarh district, and party chief Sudesh Mahto have condemned the illegal mining.In a post on X, Union minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth expressed grief over the death of the villagers in the mine collapse.