Tragic Clay Mine Collapse Claims Three Lives in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli District
A devastating clay mine collapse in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli district has resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including two minor girls, while leaving two women critically injured. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in Parsohar village, casting a grim spotlight on the perilous practice of informal mining and soil extraction prevalent in the state's tribal and rural regions.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The tragedy unfolded around 1:21 PM when a group of women and children entered a shallow pit to extract chhui, a soft, white-and-yellow clay traditionally utilized for plastering houses. While they were engaged in this activity, a substantial section of the loose earth suddenly gave way, burying five people under tonnes of soil.
Police have identified the deceased as Preeti Singh (10) and Basanti (16), both residents of Harhawa village, along with Phoolmati Yadav (50) from Bandha village. The two survivors, Kaushalya Singh (50) of Parsohar village and Sakmuni Singh (45) of Chandreha village, were rescued in an unconscious state and rushed to a hospital, where they remain in serious condition.
Rescue Efforts and Community Response
The collapse triggered immediate panic in Parsohar village, with family members and neighbours rushing to the site upon hearing desperate screams from beneath the earth. Villagers initially attempted to dig out the trapped victims using basic tools like spades and pickaxes before alerting the sarpanch and local authorities.
"We heard shouting and ran towards the mound. The soil had already settled by then. We tried digging with whatever tools we had," recounted Satish Singh, a local resident. He added, "This mound has red and yellow soil, which people often dig for household work. We have warned people many times that it is dangerous, but poverty forces them to keep coming back."
Police teams from the Kundwar outpost and Jiawan police station swiftly arrived at the location after being notified. Given the depth of the collapse and the unstable nature of the soil, authorities requisitioned an earth excavator machine to conduct the rescue operation. The bodies and injured women were eventually extracted after several hours of meticulous excavation.
Police Investigation and Safety Concerns
According to police officials, the victims were discovered at varying depths, suggesting that the collapse occurred in stages rather than as a single, sudden slide. "The soil here is extremely loose. Once it starts slipping, it keeps falling inward," explained a police officer involved in the rescue mission.
Police have sent the bodies for postmortem examination, and an official inquiry has been initiated. The investigation will scrutinize whether the site had been previously identified as hazardous and whether adequate warnings or restrictions were properly enforced to prevent such tragedies.
Broader Implications for Informal Mining Practices
This heartbreaking incident underscores the severe dangers associated with informal mining and soil extraction in Madhya Pradesh's tribal and rural belts. Women and children routinely enter unstable pits to collect mud for domestic purposes, often risking their lives due to economic necessity.
The collapse serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for enhanced safety measures, community awareness programs, and alternative livelihood options in these vulnerable regions to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
