Four killed as illegal mine in Jharkhand caves in

RANCHI - Four people, including a teenage girl, died when an abandoned mica mine caved in and trapped them while they were illegally mining there in Jharkhands Koderma district, police said Thursday.

According to police, seven people went to extract mica from the abandoned mine located at Domchach of Koderma district, about 160 km from Ranchi, Wednesday. The mine roof caved in, trapping them inside.

The local people rescued three people. Fearing police action, the relatives of the four dead people removed bodies Wednesday night itself.

Illegal mining is rampant in Jharkhand. More than 350 people have died in related accidents in the state in the past ten years.