Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has announced a judicial inquiry into the recent blast at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district, which resulted in the deaths of 27 people.
At least 16 labourers were killed and several others are feared trapped following an explosion at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district. Rescue operations are underway.
Four people died and four others were injured after an abandoned coal mine collapsed during illegal mining in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district. The incident has sparked protests and demands for compensation from the Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL).
Villagers protesting against the expansion of a coal mine clashed with police in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, resulting in injuries on both sides. The protest stems from opposition to the Amera extension coal project of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), despite the land acquisition process being completed in 2016.
The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth 159 crore in connection with a money laundering investigation related to illegal coal mining in West Bengal. The case involves alleged pilferage and implicates various entities, including the political consultancy firm I-PAC.
A preliminary probe revealed that the two miners had died after boulders hit them while extracting coal, the SP said, adding that the police were trying to trace the owner of the mine.
Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) has suspended coal mining and dispatch operations at its ABOCP mine in Dhanbad since April 2, following a protest by local workers demanding full-time wages and benefits.
The body of another worker, who was trapped inside a coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district, was recovered on Saturday from the quarry during rescue operations, an official said.
The tragedy highlights the dangers of unregulated mining operations in the region. Rescue efforts continued as families mourned the loss, and authorities worked to locate missing miners amid the disaster.
Rescue operations at a flooded coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district continued for the seventh day on Sunday to locate trapped labourers inside the quarry. The bodies of four labourers have been recovered so far, with the dewatering process expected to reach its final stage soon. The mine was abandoned 12 years ago and was under the Assam Mineral Development Corporation until three years ago. The leader of the workers has been arrested and the police are conducting investigations into the case.
West Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul has said the state government would ensure women can move freely at any time of the day, and that complaints lodged by them are treated by the police on a priority basis.
The human cost of rat-hole mining falls disproportionately on migrant labourers.
West Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul announced that the state government will ensure women's freedom of movement at any time and prioritise their complaints. CCTV monitoring will be introduced across civic bodies to enhance transparency and curb corruption. The government also plans to address illegal activities such as toll plazas, sand extraction, and coal mining, while streamlining welfare schemes and improving infrastructure projects.
A team of navy, army, NDRF, and SDRF personnel are working to rescue nine workers trapped inside a coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district. The mine is suspected to be illegal, and one person has been arrested in connection with the incident. Rescue efforts have been underway since Monday, but no workers have been found yet.
The body of one of the nine workers trapped inside a coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district was recovered by army divers on Wednesday on the third day of the rescue operations, officials said.
An NDRF team is deployed to rescue miners allegedly trapped in an abandoned coal mine in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, but operations are delayed as the exact location remains unidentified. Officials claim no signs of an incident have been found, while local residents and politicians allege a mine collapse during illegal mining activities.
The officials said that families of the illegal miners are yet to report to the authorities, fearing police action.
The body has been detected inside the 370-foot-deep coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district,
The incident took place when some people from nearby villages were collecting coal from the "over-burdened" dump yard located near the mining area.
The Supreme Court order has created a new legal framework for coal mining by ruling that only the Union government and its entities can do it.
The apex court had observed that the allocation was arbitrary, illegal, and resulted in unfair distribution of national wealth.
Select committees on Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill and Coal Mines Bill recommended their approval without any change
But reiterates that licences of 46 blocks in operation should be retained.
Govt to issue ownership rights of 15 coal mines on Mar 23.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed poll rallies in West Bengal, attacking Mamata Banerjee's TMC and promising development if the BJP wins the state elections. He accused Banerjee of appeasement politics and vowed to prevent the construction of a Babri Masjid-like structure in Bengal.
The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at the office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the home of its director Pratik Jain in Kolkata as part of a money laundering probe into an alleged multi-crore rupee coal pilferage scam.
Rahul Gandhi accuses Mamata Banerjee of not directly fighting the BJP, alleging that this indirect approach benefits the ruling party. He also criticised her government's performance on job creation and handling of corruption.
The bench issued notice to the Meghalaya government, the centre and others seeking their response on various issues connected with coal mining in the state and posted the matter for hearing February 19.
'On November 8, two women activists were assaulted and left for dead because they were following the illegal mining trail. This is how bad the coal mafia is in Meghalaya.' 'Most politicians own coal mines, some policemen own coal mines and some in the administration own them.' 'So what you have is a nice cocktail and everybody is protecting each other.'
The CBI on Monday questioned relatives of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee in connection with its investigation into the multi-crore coal pilferage case.
The body of the trapped miner was spotted on January 16 and efforts were on to pull it out of the shaft of the coal mine filled with water.
Everyday coal is illegally ferried on around 5000 bicycles out of the mines of Central Coalfield Limited in Giridih, Jharkhand but no seems to mind. Shahnawaz Akhtar reports
in the first lot 74 blocks will be auctioned, but the number of mines a company can bid will be capped to avoid monopoly.
"The fourth body was found at 230ft in general area where the third body was found. It is located about 20 feet away from the pulley cart used to transport the dug-out coal," operation spokesperson R Susngi said.
However, the National Disaster Response Force, which has been engaged in the rescue operation since the day of the tragedy on December 13 last, will continue with their services.
Operations at 26 mines are set to commence again within a couple of months.
After extricating five bodies from an abandoned coal mine in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district, government authorities and the Eastern Coalfields limited Wednesday called off the rescue operation, while locals and leaders of political parties claimed more people were still trapped under the debris.
The 15-member team, equipped with specialised diving equipment including a re-compression chamber and remotely operated vehicles capable of searching underwater, went straightway to the mine site in the remote Lumthari village in East Jaintia Hills district.
The Solicitor General had told the bench that several members of the National Disaster Response Force were working at the site and instead of the army, the government has sent navy personnel there as the mine was submerged in water.
Susngi said there was slight dip in the water level in the mine shaft, but it was not significant enough.
