Newz Desk, Durgapur/Andal September 26: Panic once again gripped the Nilkanth Tala area of Khandra in Andal after a fresh instance of land subsidence was reported near the Nilkanth Temple on Friday night, barely a month after a similar incident in the area.
According to local residents, the latest subsidence occurred in an open stretch a short distance from the temple and assumed a considerable size, triggering fresh concerns among people living in the vicinity. A similar incident had occurred in the area earlier, close to residential settlements, forcing several residents to temporarily leave their homes amid fears over their safety. Following the earlier incident, officials had reportedly identified around 10 cottahs of land as dangerous and arranged fencing around the affected area. However, residents claim that no comprehensive safety measures or rehabilitation arrangements have been made so far. Following the latest incident, a few ECL officials reached the spot on Saturday morning to assess the situation. However, they reportedly declined to comment on camera.
Local resident Akash Ruidas alleged that repeated subsidence in and around Khandra and the Nilkanth Temple area was linked to improper sand packing after underground coal extraction. He also levelled allegations against a former manager of Bisheshwari Colliery, claiming that inadequate underground packing had contributed to the recurring problem. These allegations could not be independently verified.
Tanmoy Baksi a local resident said “Every time the ground subsides, we are gripped by fear. We do not know when the next collapse will happen or whether our houses and families will be safe. We have been living with this uncertainty for years. The authorities must take immediate steps to assess the underground mine condition and ensure the safety of residents”
Residents also questioned the explanation reportedly given after the previous subsidence, when ECL officials attributed the incident to an old mine dating back to 1982. They alleged that inadequate packing after coal extraction could be contributing to fresh instances of ground movement. With another subsidence reported within weeks, fear has once again returned among residents of the area. Local people are now seeking effective safety measures and a permanent solution to ensure that they can live without the constant fear of land subsidence.
