Five people have been confirmed dead after a pile of waste collapsed over locals trying to lift coal from an abandoned open cast mine owned by state-run Coal India Ltd in Jharkhand, police said on Wednesday.
Police said the mishap occurred early on Tuesday in Gopinathpur in the district of Dhanbad, located about 400 km (250 miles) from Jharkhand's capital Ranchi.
The top police official in the region said the deceased were not professional miners.
"In that patch, mining work was not going on. Those who died were local coal pickers," Dhanbad Senior Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar told Reuters.
Though the overall number of accidents have progressively decreased in India, coal mining remains one of the most dangerous professions in the country. One coal miner died on the job every 12 days on average in 2020, according to government data.
Meet Hang Son Doong: The World’s Largest Cave with Jungles, Stalagmites, and a Hidden River PM's "Infiltrator" Jab At Hemant Soren's Party, Congress In Jharkhand Rally This Election Will Mark Ouster Of JMM Government: PM Modi Video: Man Sits On Firecracker In Bet For New Vehicle. Explosion Kills Him Charges Drawn Up In Kolkata Rape-Murder Case, Accused Says "Framed" "Cowardly Attempts To Intimidate Diplomats": PM's 1st Comments On Canada Row 3 Women Injured In Car Accident In North Delhi's Civil Lines VITEEE 2025: Registration Begins, Exams Start On April 21, Check Details Assam Police Rescue 19 Dogs, Arrest 4 In Crackdown On Illegal Smuggling Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.