Dhanbad: A fresh land subsidence in BCCL’s fire-affected Keshalpur colliery area on Sunday afternoon forced many families to vacate their homes as a precautionary measure after cracks began to appear in several houses. No casualties were reported.Residents said the ground in Keshalpur locality suddenly caved in, frightening people living nearby. They said it was not an isolated incident, recalling that nearly a year ago a similar subsidence rendered several families homeless, compelling them to abandon their houses and move to safer places.They alleged that despite repeated warnings and earlier incidents, no permanent safety measures or effective monitoring system had been put in place in the vulnerable area. The recurring cave-ins, they said, continue to threaten lives and property.After receiving information, BCCL officials, led by ACS Ram Naresh Kumar, along with company personnel and CISF jawans, reached the site to assess the situation. The affected area was cordoned off with barricade tape and public entry was prohibited to prevent any mishap.The site is close to the Katri river and a temple. With continuous rainfall raising the river’s water level, residents fear water may seep into nearby abandoned underground mine workings, increasing the risk of further collapse in the surrounding area.Dhanbad deputy commissioner Aditya Ranjan said assistance is being extended to the affected residents and efforts are underway to shift them to safer locations. He added that the process of relocating eligible families under the Jharia rehabilitation scheme would begin at the earliest.
