In a major accident at Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) in Dhanbad, a service van carrying six labourers fell into a 300-foot deep pit following sudden land subsidence. The van, operated by a private company engaged in outsourced mining work, was exiting the mine when the soil gave way.
Rescue operations have been ongoing for several hours, with no workers located so far. The rugged terrain and depth of the pit have posed serious challenges for the rescue teams. Senior BCCL officials, local police, and medical teams are supervising and assisting in the operation, while local residents have also joined in the search.
The incident has raised serious concerns over mining safety in the Dhanbad coal belt, especially regarding adherence to DGMS regulations. Workers&rsquo; unions allege that coal excavation was conducted without following proper safety standards, contributing to the accident.
Additionally, a land subsidence in a nearby residential area led to the collapse of several houses, highlighting ongoing risks in the region. Previous incidents in August also raised safety concerns, including a woman narrowly escaping a 15-foot pit and several houses being damaged due to subsidence.
The top priority remains locating and rescuing the trapped labourers and ensuring their safety.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

Van carrying six workers plunges 300 ft in Dhanbad coal mine; rescue operations underway

Six Labourers Missing in Dhanbad Mine Accident

Van carrying six workers plunges 300 ft in Dhanbad coal mine; rescue operations underway

September 5, 2025 | 19:08 IST