Regarding the underground fires in coal seams in the Jharia coalfield, India,
looking in Google, I see that the Times of India newspaper carried the
following report in 2006:
DHANBAD: The government has decided to relocate an entire township - Jharia -
because of the uncontrollable spread of underground fires that have been burning
for years in the coal belt.
The fires had reached "alarming proportions'' in Jharia coalfield and immediate shifting
of people living in Jharia town was the only solution to avert any possible disaster,
Union coal minister Shibu Soren said on Tuesday.
"About four lakh people of Jharia will be shifted to a new township near Dhanbad,"
Soren said.
[ 1 lakh = 100,000, so that is 400,000 people to be rehoused]
Tony Brewis
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