Which Place is known as the Burning City of India?

Imagine living in a place where the ground is always hot and smoke comes out from the earth. This is not a movie scene – it is real life in Jharia. This town is known as the Burning City of India because fires haves been burning under the ground for more than 100 years.

Where is Jharia Located?

Jharia is a small town in the Dhanbad District of Jharkhand. It lies in an area rich in coal, especially high-quality coal used for making steel. Because of this, the region has been mined for many years.

Why is Jharia Called the Burning City?

Jharia is called the Burning City because of underground coal fires. These fires started way back in 1916 and are still burning today.

When coal comes in contact with air through cracks in the ground, it can catch fire on its own. This is called self-heating. Over time, the fire spreads slowly under the surface and becomes very difficult to stop.

How did the Fire Start?

The fire is believed to have started in an old coal mine that was not properly closed. Empty spaces were left open, allowing air to enter. This caused the coal to heat up and catch fire.

As more mines were dug without proper care, the fire spread further underground.

Effects of the Jharia Fire

• Dangerous Air: The fire releases harmful gases like carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. These gases make the air unsafe to breathe.
• Ground Collapse: As coal burns under the ground, empty spaces are created. This causes the land above to sink suddenly, damaging homes and roads.
• Health Problems: People living in Jharia often suffer from breathing problems, eye irritation, and skin diseases due to pollution.
• People Losing Homes: Many families have been forced to leave their homes because the land is no longer safe.

What is being Done to Stop the Fire?

The government and companies like Coal India Limited are trying different methods:

• Covering cracks in the ground to stop air from entering.
• Pumping gases like nitrogen to control the fire.
• Removing burning coal from affected areas.

However, these fires are very deep and large, so they are difficult to fully stop.

Current Situation

Even today, dozens of fire spots are active in Jharia. Because of this, the focus has shifted from stopping the fire to moving people to safer places.