SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad Aug 14: Panic prevails among 10,000 residents of Jharia after massive subsidence occurred and poisonous gas began emitting from it on Jharia -Sindri main road near Indira Chowk on Friday night.
The police officials of Jharia police station, which is hardly 1 km away from the spot, said one side of the road was barricaded and traffic movement suspended. The Jharia –Sindri road is considered very busy from the traffic point of view. “ No casualty was reported in the incident,” said Jharia police station officer-in-charge Pankaj Kumar Jha to media persons.
Sanjay Agrawal, a resident of Indira Chowk said, around 8.45 pm with loud sound about five ft long and 4 ft wide crater (Goaf) occurred on side of the road, and gas began emitting.
“ We immediately informed Jharia police and concerned officers of Bastakola Shimlabahal colliery area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL),” he said.
Indira Chowk area of Jharia falls in the underground fire zone of Jharia. On May 23, 2017, Babloo Khan (40) and his son Karim (12) were buried alive at the same Indira Chowk when land subsided while he was sweeping his roadside garage.
A senior officer of BCCL said that area falls under a fire zone and residents were long ago served notice of danger. However, subsidence is common phenomenon and crater has been filled up with sand.
Earlier on August 11, subsidence had occurred on Katras- Mahuda road at Domgarh under Govindpur colliery area -3 of BCCL.
