Massive crater rattles Phularibag, residents blame BCCL inaction

A massive land subsidence occurred late Friday night in the fire-affected Phularibag locality of Sharia, exposing a 40-foot-wide and 50-foot-deep crater that swallowed a stationary utility vehicle and sent shockwaves through the densely populated neighbourhood, people familiar with the incident said on Saturday.

- Praduman Choubey

The incident, which occurred around 8 pm, created panic in the locality, with residents raising an uproar and demanding immediate action. Jharia police rushed to the site and cordoned off the area to prevent further mishaps. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported, the above-cited people said. Residents said the incident has reignited concerns about the longstanding issue of underground mine fires, gas leaks, and surface instability that continue to threaten thousands of families in the Jharia coal belt.

Locals are questioning why no concrete measures have been taken since then to prevent such disasters from occurring.