Archive · 14 Jan 2026
West Bengal Coal Mine Collapse Kills 3
A coal mine in Asansol, West Bengal, collapsed on January 13, 2026, while people were illegally extracting coal.
Three people died, and two were rescued.
The BJP MLA Ajay Poddar said that the state government and police are responsible for allowing illegal coal mining.
The TMC leader Ujjwal Chatterjee, however, blamed the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Union coal and home ministries.
Rescue teams like NDRF and SDRF were deployed to help.
Earlier, a similar incident in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district left seven people dead.
The West Bengal government has sought a report on the incident and may take stringent measures against illegal coal mining ahead of the next Assembly elections.
A coal mine collapsed in the Borira area of Asansol, West Bengal, on January 13, 2026, killing three illegal coal miners and injuring two others.
The incident occurred in the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) area under the jurisdiction of Kulti police station.
BJP MLA Dr. Ajoy Poddar blamed the state government and police for allowing illegal coal mining, while TMC leader Ujjwal Chatterjee blamed the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Union coal and home ministries.
Rescue teams NDRF and SDRF were deployed for the operation, and the injured were admitted to Asansol District Hospital.
The West Bengal government has sought a detailed report from the district civil defence and disaster management department and may take stringent measures against illegal coal mining ahead of the next Assembly elections.
- Who
- Three illegal coal miners (including a woman) died, two others were injured
- What
- A coal mine collapse in an illegal mining area
- When
- January 13, 2026, at 7:45 AM
- Where
- Borira, Damagoria coal-bearing area, Asansol, West Bengal
- Why
- Illegal rathole coal extraction in the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) area
BJP
TMC
Responsibility for Illegal Coal Mining
BJP
The state government and police are responsible for allowing illegal coal mining to flourish.
TMC
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Union coal and home ministries are equally responsible for such incidents.
- Location
- Borira, Damagoria coal-bearing area, Asansol, West Bengal
- Date
- January 13, 2026
- Victims
- 3 dead (Gita Bauri, Suresh Bauri, Tilu Bauri), 2 injured (Subhash Mallick, Govinda Bauri)
- Cause
- Illegal rathole coal extraction
- Rescue Teams
- NDRF, SDRF
- Allegations
- Police and coal mafia nexus
- Injured Admitted To
- Asansol District Hospital
- Daily Earnings of Miners
- Rs 300 to Rs 500
