Cracks on Dhanbad-Ranchi road trigger panic among locals
Dhanbad : Multiple surface cracks appeared on the Dhanbad-Ranchi main road on Wednesday, forcing authorities to shut down the busy stretch and divert traffic.
Around 8 am, the road surface sank by nearly 2 ft at the centre. Multiple cracks on the road triggered panic among commuters and locals.
Witnesses said several cracks developed along the stretch, raising concerns about further subsidence. The road, a key arterial route, witnesses heavy vehicular movement throughout the day, making the situation alarming.
Kenduadih police reached the spot and cordoned off the area. Barricades were put up to prevent traffic movement. Traffic was diverted through a nearby link road.
Kenduadih police station officer in-charge Pramod Pandey said that the incident was reported to Bharat Coking Coal Ltd ( BCCL ) and the district administration. “The situation is being closely monitored. Considering safety concerns, a decision may be taken to permanently close this portion of the road if required,” he said.
Locals and public representatives claimed that BCCL is deliberately neglecting the area to force the people to vacate. “We are ready for rehabilitation, but our demands are not being met. Such incidents only increase our fears,” said Dinnath Thakur , a resident of Kendua , adding that BCCL officials are responsible for the incident.
The area has already reported toxic gas leakage over the past few months, which has claimed three lives so far. The road collapse has further intensified concerns over safety and living conditions.
BCCL issued a statement expressing concern over public safety. The company stated that during a routine inspection on Wednesday, its colliery management observed multiple surface cracks on NH-32 near the old GM bungalow at Kenduadih — the same location where a gas emission was reported on Dec 3, 2025.
BCCL said that fire-induced subsidence earlier developed on the bungalow premises on April 5 and later spread to nearby shops. The area has already been declared geotechnically unstable by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS).
To address the issue, BCCL has engaged IIT(ISM) Dhanbad to conduct a detailed geotechnical study and recommend long-term remedial measures. Officials said continuous monitoring is underway.
Around 8 am, the road surface sank by nearly 2 ft at the centre. Multiple cracks on the road triggered panic among commuters and locals.
Witnesses said several cracks developed along the stretch, raising concerns about further subsidence. The road, a key arterial route, witnesses heavy vehicular movement throughout the day, making the situation alarming.
Kenduadih police reached the spot and cordoned off the area. Barricades were put up to prevent traffic movement. Traffic was diverted through a nearby link road.
Kenduadih police station officer in-charge Pramod Pandey said that the incident was reported to Bharat Coking Coal Ltd ( BCCL ) and the district administration. “The situation is being closely monitored. Considering safety concerns, a decision may be taken to permanently close this portion of the road if required,” he said.
Locals and public representatives claimed that BCCL is deliberately neglecting the area to force the people to vacate. “We are ready for rehabilitation, but our demands are not being met. Such incidents only increase our fears,” said Dinnath Thakur , a resident of Kendua , adding that BCCL officials are responsible for the incident.
The area has already reported toxic gas leakage over the past few months, which has claimed three lives so far. The road collapse has further intensified concerns over safety and living conditions.
BCCL issued a statement expressing concern over public safety. The company stated that during a routine inspection on Wednesday, its colliery management observed multiple surface cracks on NH-32 near the old GM bungalow at Kenduadih — the same location where a gas emission was reported on Dec 3, 2025.
BCCL said that fire-induced subsidence earlier developed on the bungalow premises on April 5 and later spread to nearby shops. The area has already been declared geotechnically unstable by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS).
To address the issue, BCCL has engaged IIT(ISM) Dhanbad to conduct a detailed geotechnical study and recommend long-term remedial measures. Officials said continuous monitoring is underway.
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