Overview

• A month-long underground fire in an abandoned illegal coal mine in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district claimed the life of contractual worker Ravindra Mahto after ground subsidence on May 21.
• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams launched a rescue operation but reported slim chances of recovering the body due to intense heat and unstable conditions.
• The fire, which began on April 20, continues to burn through nearly 30 interconnected mine openings, complicating extinguishing efforts despite ongoing work by Central Coalfields Limited (CCL).
• Villagers have cut power to the CCL Rajrappa project, demanding Rs 1 crore compensation and a government job for the deceased’s family, while alleging negligence in preventive measures.
• CCL maintains the mine is not part of its operations but is cooperating with authorities to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby populated areas.