Underground mines fire triggers panic in Jharia

Rising flame and smoke emitting from underground mines in Ghanudih project under Bastakola Area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) around 12 km from district headquarters triggered panic among 20,000 population in Jharia township.
Eyewitnesses said, around 20 feet sheet of smoke and flame were billowing out from different seams of underground mines since Tuesday evening.
The deputy director of Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) Nayan Sinha yesterday inspected the spot and said the flames could be controlled.
Sinha also allayed fears about any threat to Jharia Township from underground mine fire for the time being.
Meanwhile, the BCCL management yesterday served notice of eviction to residents of four basti Gandhi Chabutra, Fularibag, Durgapur and houses near colliery office in Dhanudih project saying in case of failure to vacate the place the management would not be responsible for any loss of life and property.

However, complicating the situation the residents, refused to shift until BCCL gave them permanent place for living and even refused to move to quarters of Jharia-Vihar colony of Belagaria under Baliapur block that has been constructed for the persons displaced by mines fire.