Two people were killed, and another sustained critical injuries, after a portion of the boundary wall of a coal mine collapsed on them in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district on Tuesday, the police said.
Representational image.
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Kobra superintendent of police Siddharth Tiwari said the incident took place in the wee hours of the day at the South Eastern Coalfields Limited’s (SECL) Gevra open-cast coal mine under the Hardi Bazar police station limits.
“As per locals, three people had allegedly entered the mine to steal coal when a portion of the boundary wall of the Dipka and Gevra mines suddenly collapsed,” Tiwari said.
A rescue operation was immediately launched, following which the bodies of Vishal Yadav (18) and Dhan Singh Kanwar (24) were retrieved.
Yadav and Kanwar died after getting trapped under the debris, while the third person, Sahil Dhanwar, sustained injuries.
Dhanwar is recovering at the district hospital, and a probe is underway.
SECL’s public relations officer Sanish Chandra said that the trio may have tried stealing coal from the mine’s boundary wall, resulting in the collapse of the coal layer.
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The SECL management has appealed to locals to avoid such risky and illegal activities, the official added.
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The SECL management has appealed to locals to avoid such risky and illegal activities, the official added.
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting.
His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.
