3 killed, 2 injured as coal roof collapses on villagers in abandoned BCCL colliery at Kulti
The Statesman | 14 January 2026
Three illegal coal miners were killed and two others seriously injured after a section of coal roof collapsed on them at the abandoned Borira Open Cast Colliery of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) under Kulti police station on Tuesday.
The deceased have been identified as Geeta Bauri, Suresh Bauri and Tipu Mallick. The injured, Subhash Mallick and Gobinda Bauri, have been admitted to Asansol District Hospital, where their condition is stated to be critical.
According to sources, the incident occurred when a large chunk of coal suddenly caved in on a group of villagers who had entered the abandoned mine to collect coal illegally. A few miners managed to escape and informed others, following which residents of nearby villages ~ Lakhanpur, Kanyapur and Lalbazar ~ rushed to the site and began rescue operations.
Later, personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Kulti Police under the Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate (ADPC), local BCCL officials and teams from the Mines Rescue Station, Sitarampur, reached the spot and took over the rescue work.
Post-mortem examinations of the deceased were conducted at Asansol District Hospital. BCCL officials said that the Kulti Police and CISF regularly warn local residents not to enter unsafe and hazardous zones of abandoned collieries to collect coal.
Despite repeated warnings, many impoverished villagers continue to extract coal illegally from exposed pit sides, risking their lives in order to earn a livelihood by selling coal in nearby areas.
The BJP alleged that residents of villages such as Lakhanpur, Kanyapur and Lalbazar have little or no employment opportunities and are therefore compelled to resort to illegal coal mining to survive. Kulti MLA Dr Ajoy Poddar has demanded compensation for the families of the victims.
Sources in the ADPC said they have urged BCCL management to bulldoze exposed coal areas to prevent illegal entry and further loss of life.
Meanwhile, BCCL authorities claimed that no villagers remain trapped under the debris and that rescue operations have been concluded.