Keonjhar, Jul 2: In a tragic incident that has once again exposed the perils of illegal mining in Odisha, three tribal labourers lost their lives after a landslide buried them inside an unauthorized manganese mine near Bichakundi village under Joda police limits.

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the ecologically sensitive Dalapahad hill region, located within the Baitarani Reserve Forest.

The deceased have been identified as Sandeep Purty (32), Guru Champia (18), and Kande Munda (19), all residents of Bichakundi Munda Basti.

According to police sources, the trio was engaged in illegal manganese extraction when a section of loose soil collapsed due to recent heavy rainfall, trapping them beneath the debris.

Upon receiving information, teams from the forest department, police, and fire services rushed to the site and launched a six-hour-long rescue operation with the help of local villagers. All three bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examination at the Joda medical center.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the labourers were recruited by a local individual, identified as Saroj Munda alias Dengara, who is currently absconding. The families of the deceased have demanded his immediate arrest and compensation for their loss.

The incident has sparked outrage among locals and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of enforcement by the mining, forest, and police departments.

Despite being a protected forest zone, illegal mining activities have reportedly continued unabated in the region, driven by high demand for iron and manganese ores.

Authorities have launched a probe into the incident, and further action is expected against those involved in facilitating the illegal operations.

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