Fire in Burdwan mines: panic continues, relief work on

Kolkata, January 1 Panic prevails in several villages of Jamuria in Asansol as huge columns of fire and smoke are seen billowing from at least four illegal mine pits for the last two days. Police and the Burdwan district administration are trying to fill the areas with sand as safeguard against possible subsidence.

The cause of fire might be due to blasting inside the illegal mines, which number over 50 in the entire area spreading over 1,000 acres at Benali and Satgram villages, police said. “The smoldering fire has been brought under control, but smoke is still billowing from some other pits,” police said, adding that locals had been asked not to approach the mine pits.

According to the police, the blaze might also be due to accumulation of huge quantity of methane gas inside the illegal mines. All these mines have long been abandoned by the Eastern Coalfields Limited.

“We are looking for those mining these pits illegally,” they said. The incident generated considerable panic in the areas and movement of vehicles on NH 2 had been affected, police said.