SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, August 18: Dhanbad witnessed a major land subsidence in Sabri Basti near New Shyam Bazar of Modidih colliery under Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) in the early hours of Monday.
The incident occurred between 3 and 4 am, causing the house of Arun Rajak to completely cave in, while over a dozen other houses developed cracks. Fortunately, no human casualties were reported, though panic spread across the locality.
Rajak recounted that his family was asleep when they were jolted awake by a loud noise, followed by the collapse of their asbestos-roofed house. In another incident, a cow belonging to Govind Bhuyanj was trapped in the subsidence but was rescued safely by local residents.
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Authorities Begin Rehabilitation Measures
Project Officer of Modidih Colliery, Gopaljee, said the affected family has been shifted to Modidih Community Hall temporarily. He assured that all residents whose homes were damaged would be rehabilitated at Tetulmari.
Local MLA from Baghmara, Shatrughan Mahto, also visited the site in the morning and directed BCCL management to arrange rehabilitation and ensure immediate compensation for victims.
Past Incidents and Residents’ Anger
Residents recalled that they had been shifted to Sabri Basti in 1976–77 after a fire destroyed their earlier settlement. However, the area has remained vulnerable, with a similar subsidence reported in 2006. At that time, local MLA and then-minister Jaleswar Mahto had ordered the filling of subsidence holes to prevent gas emissions.
Despite repeated warnings, residents alleged that neither BCCL officials nor Jogta police responded promptly to this latest incident. Action was reportedly taken only after MLA Shatrughan Mahto, the elder brother of Dhanbad MP Dhulu Mahto, reached the spot and called officials to intervene.
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Demand for Safer Rehabilitation
The affected families have expressed reluctance to move into vacant BCCL quarters in Tetulmari, as offered by the authorities.
Instead, they have demanded rehabilitation in Angarpathra, which they consider a safer location. Until a permanent solution is provided, fear and uncertainty continue to loom large over Sabri Basti.
