Dhanbad: Recurring land subsidence in the Katras coal belt has prompted residents to intensify their agitation, with local organisations calling for a complete shutdown on Thursday.The bandh call was finalised at meetings held on Wednesday. At Rajasthani Samaj Bhawan, the Katras Bachao Sangharsh Morcha unanimously resolved to keep all establishments closed. Members warned that if Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) failed to take concrete preventive measures, they would launch the next phase of their agitation with a road blockade affecting BCCL’s Area 12 projects.Koylanchal Bachao Samiti also met at Bharati Club and chalked out a strategy to ensure the shutdown’s success.Residents said frequent cave-ins and cracks had spread fear across the coal belt. Prabhat Mishra said the situation had reached a critical stage and warned that continued incidents could put several settlements at risk. He said shops and other establishments would remain closed on Thursday, while memoranda seeking immediate action would be submitted to the district administration and BCCL.Concern intensified after three houses in Loyabad’s Muslim locality were affected on Sept 20. Cracks appeared in vacant land in Chhatabad’s Khusbu locality on Sept 18, while several houses also developed cracks.On Sept 13, three people were killed and several others injured after land caved in at Keshhalpur Kumhar Patti in Ramkanali. On Sept 8, a 10-year-old boy died when the ground subsided at Teenpattiya in Sijua.Residents have alleged that inadequate preventive measures by the authorities have fuelled anger in the affected areas.
