Jharia coalfield, Coal deposit in Jharia, Jharkhand, India
The Jharia coalfield is a major deposit of high-quality bituminous coal in eastern India. It stretches across a broad area and holds resources that supply the country's industry and power generation.
Mining operations in Jharia started in 1894 when local entrepreneurs opened multiple coal mines. This development broke the British monopoly and launched large-scale extraction in the region.
Mining shapes how people live and work in this region across generations. Many families balance coal extraction with farming, turning seasonal rhythms into a way of life.
Access to the area depends on safety conditions and local regulations that vary across mining sites. Visitors should check locally about what is open to see and follow instructions from people on site.
Since 1916, underground fires have burned continuously in the mines, turning coal into smoke. These fires have created deep ground collapses that reshape the landscape even now.
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