A major stretch of the rural road connecting Gopalganj and Benagoria in Nirsa caved in on Friday, allegedly due to continuous blasting activities at the Chapapur Open Cast Project (OCP). The incident disrupted transportation in the area and triggered strong protests from local residents, who subsequently forced the suspension of mining operations at the site.
Road Subsidence Details
According to local sources, nearly 10 metres of the road sank to a depth of about five feet, affecting an area of approximately 50 metres. The sudden subsidence has rendered the road unsafe for commuters and raised fears of a serious accident. Villagers said the road serves as a vital link for several nearby settlements, and its collapse has severely affected daily movement.
Protest and Demands
Following the incident, zila parishad member Pinky Marandi, social worker Anjali Paswan, and a large number of villagers reached the OCP site and demanded an immediate halt to mining activities. The protesters warned that work would not be allowed to resume until the damaged road is repaired and adequate safety measures are ensured. Residents alleged that repeated heavy blasting at the Chapapur OCP has already caused cracks in several houses in the surrounding villages. They claimed that the latest road cave-in is further evidence of the adverse impact of mining operations on local infrastructure and public safety.
Marandi demanded legal action against the company, the outsourcing agency operating the OCP, alleging negligence that has put lives and property at risk. Paswan, also a local resident, called for an investigation into whether blasting norms were being followed and urged authorities to undertake immediate restoration of the damaged road.
Previous Warnings Ignored
Paswan also stated that the matter had been brought to the attention of the Dhanbad MP and local MLA three days earlier, but no concrete action had been taken. Villagers warned of a larger agitation if their concerns remain unaddressed.
Current Situation
Mining work at the Chapapur OCP remains suspended following the protest, while police personnel have been deployed in the area. Nirsa SDPO Lileshwar Mahto said the situation following the road subsidence incident is now under control. He stated that villagers were convinced after being assured that the damaged portion of the road would be reconstructed at the earliest. Following the assurance, the protest ended and the company’s mining operations have resumed, he added.
Attempts to contact company officials for their response were unsuccessful.
