DHANBAD: A major land subsidence incident struck Chhatabad in the Katras area of Dhanbad on Friday, triggering panic among residents. According to initial reports, nearly a dozen houses were swallowed as the ground suddenly caved in, forcing families to flee their homes.The incident left the affected locality in shock, with several families losing their homes within minutes. No casualties had been officially confirmed at the time of filing this report, while residents were seen evacuating the area amid fears of further subsidence.The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of people living in the coal mining belt. Local residents alleged that repeated land subsidence has become a recurring threat, but no permanent measures have been taken to prevent such incidents.The latest incident comes three days after a similar incident in Katras’ Govindpur area, where more than half a dozen houses collapsed into the ground. Household belongings, motorcycles and other valuables were buried beneath the debris, leaving several families homeless.Angry residents blamed the alleged negligence of BCCL for the recurring subsidence and demanded immediate rehabilitation, adequate compensation and a comprehensive safety plan for vulnerable settlements.They also urged the district administration and mining authorities to conduct an urgent survey and relocate families living in high-risk zones before another major tragedy occurs.
