Land Subsidence Strikes West Burdwan District, School Destroyed
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Synopsis
A severe case of land subsidence in West Bengal's West Burdwan district has led to the collapse of a school building, raising concerns about safety in the region where illegal coal mining practices are prevalent.
Key Takeaways
- Land subsidence caused a school to collapse in West Burdwan.
- Illegal coal mining activities are escalating in the region.
- Eastern Coalfield Limited is facing criticism for negligence.
- Previous incidents of subsidence have resulted in fatalities.
- Proper measures for abandoned mines are not being followed.
Kolkata, March 5 (NationPress) An alarming case of land subsidence occurred in the coal mining region of Andal in West Burdwan district of West Bengal on Wednesday, causing significant panic and confusion among residents.
The subsidence was severe enough to cause the complete collapse of a school building, leaving it razed to the ground.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of land subsidence in the coal mining areas of Andal and nearby Asansol, Raniganj, and Jamuria, attributed to rampant illegal and rat-hole mining activities orchestrated by local coal mafias.
This marks the first recorded instance of a school being destroyed due to subsidence.
Residents are demanding accountability from Eastern Coalfield Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, which is primarily responsible for the coal extraction in this region.
Officials from ECL have remained silent regarding the incident, and the area has been sealed off to restrict public access.
In a related incident last year, two individuals lost their lives and two others were seriously injured due to land subsidence at an abandoned ECL coal mine in Raniganj in West Burdwan.
Local residents have expressed that despite the mine being deemed abandoned, insufficient measures were taken to fill the mine with a sand-water mixture, facilitating illegal mining.
Earlier in October 2023, another tragic subsidence event at ECL's Narayankuri Mine in Raniganj resulted in three fatalities.
There have long been accusations against ECL for not adhering to proper procedures regarding abandoned mines.
During regular mining operations, coal is extracted, leaving behind supporting pillars of coal blocks that hold up the mine's roof. It is crucial for the mining company to fill the gaps between these pillars with a mixture of sand and water after the mine is closed to prevent illegal excavation by miners.
