Bokaro: Multiple cracks developed in a building, and a large chunk of ground caved in on campus of a hospital run by Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) in its Giridih Colliery Area in Giridih district in the early hours of Tuesday. The hospital did not have any patient at the time of incident, and no injuries were reported.Dilip Kumar, a CCL employee on night duty at the PSU’s Lancaster Hospital, said, “Around 4 am, when we stepped outside, we noticed the ground and a portion of the ground sinking. All employees were immediately evacuated and authorities were informed.”The subsidence, which occurred between 3 am and 4 am, caused cracks in the ground and portion of a building on campus to sink. A closed building on hospital campus was among the worst affected. Large cracks appeared on its walls and roof, and part of the structure suffered visible damage.The subsidence also impacted the approach road to the hospital. Deep fissures developed at several locations, while sections of the road and adjoining ground sank.Senior CCL officers, led by its Giridih Area general manager Kanhaiya Shankar Gaiwal inspected the site and assessed the damages. Gaiwal said guards were deployed to prevent people from entering the premises and entry to the hospital was restricted. “The situation is being investigated, and further action will be taken after a detailed assessment. If necessary, residents living nearby will also be relocated,” he said.Locals claimed illegal coal mining in the area, which has been allegedly going on for decades weakened underground strata, making the region vulnerable to subsidence.
