Vemareddy at 00:15, 11 April 2026

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{{Short description|Mining area in West Bengal, India}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Kunustoria Area
| image =
| width =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India
| pushpin_label = Kunustoria Area
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Bengal
| coordinates = {{coord|23.645711|N|87.117422|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| place =
| owner = [[Eastern Coalfields|Eastern Coalfields Limited]]
| official website = http://www.easterncoal.gov.in/
| acquisition year =
| stock_exchange =
| stock_code =
| products = Non-coking coal
| financial year =
| amount =
| closing year =
}}
'''Kunustoria Area''' is one of the 14 operational areas of [[Eastern Coalfields|Eastern Coalfields Limited]] located in [[Asansol subdivision]] of [[Paschim Bardhaman district]] in the state of [[West Bengal]], India.

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=350| height=250| zoom=12
| coord={{coord|23|38|6|N|87|7|5|E}}| float=left|caption='''Collieries in the Kunustoria Area of Eastern Coalfields'''<br/>U: Underground Colliery, O: Open Cast Colliery, S: Mining support, A: Administrative headquarters<br/>Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1={{coord|23|36|49|N|87|5|5|E}} | label-pos1=right|label1= Amritnagar Colliery| numbered1=U| mark-title1= Amritnagar Colliery (U)|label-color1=#800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1=#800000|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|23|37|47|N|87|8|17|E}} | label-pos2=left|label2=Bansra Colliery| numbered2=U| mark-title2= Bansra Colliery (U)
|mark-coord3={{coord|23|38|50|N|87|7|48|E}} | label-pos3=left|label3=Kunustoria Colliery| numbered3=U| mark-title3= Kunustoria Colliery (U)
|mark-coord4={{coord|23|40|4|N|87|6|4|E}} | label-pos4=right|label4= North Searsole Colliery| numbered4=U| mark-title4= North Searsole Colliery (U)
|mark-coord5={{coord|23|37|07|N|87|6|22|E}} | label-pos5=left|label5= Mahabir OCP| numbered5=O| mark-title5= Mahabir OCP (O) |shape-color5=#C42222
|mark-coord6={{coord|23|39|0|N|87|9|46|E}} | label-pos6=left|label6= Parasea Colliery| numbered6=U| mark-title6= Parasea Colliery (U)
|mark-coord7={{coord|23|39|30|N|87|8|41|E}} | label-pos7=left|label7= Belbaid Colliery| numbered7=U| mark-title7= Belbaid Colliery (U)
|mark-coord8={{coord|23|39|1|N|87|7|18|E}} | label-pos8=left|label8=ECL Kunustoria Area Office | numbered8=A| mark-title8=ECL Kunustoria Area Office (A)|shape-color8=black| label-size8=13|label-color8=black
|mark-coord9={{coord|23|38|5|N|87|7|38|E}} | label-pos9=right|label9= Bansra Hospital| numbered9=S| mark-title9= Bansra Hospital (S)}}

===Location===
The Kunustoria Area is located around {{coord|23.645711|N|87.117422|E|region:IN|}}

The Kunustoria Area is bounded by the rural areas of [[Jamuria (community development block)|Jamuria]] CD Block on the north, [[Kenda Area]] and [[Kajora Area]] on the east, Bankura district, across the [[Damodar River|Damodar]] on the south, and [[Satgram Area]] and [[Sripur Area]] on the west.<ref name=google>Google maps</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kajora_Area#/media/File:ECL_Area_Map.jpg| title = ECL Area Map | publisher = ENVIS Centre on Environmental Problems of Mining | access-date = 18 August 2018}}</ref>{{Circular reference|date=November 2020}}

The map alongside shows some of the collieries in the Area. However, as the collieries do not have individual pages, there are no links in the full screen map.

===Coal===
As per the Shodhganga website, collieries in the Kunustoria Area of [[Eastern Coalfields]] are: Amritnagar, Amrasota, Mahabir, North Searsole, Kunustoria, Banshra, Topsi, Belbaid, Parasea 6&7, Parasea, Banshra OCP, Parasea OCP and [[Narayankuri|Narayankuri OCP]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/66080/13/13_chapter%205.pdf |title = Coalmining impact on the Environment |work = Chapter V: Table 5.2 | publisher= shodganga.infibnet | access-date = 18 August 2018}}</ref>

As per ECL website telephone numbers, operational collieries in the Kunustoria Area in 2018 are:Amritnagar Colliery, Amrasota Colliery, Bansra Colliery, Belbaid Colliery, Kunustoria Colliery, Mahabir OCP, North Searsole Colliery, Parasea Colliery, Parasea 6 & 7 Incline and Parasea OCP.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.easterncoal.gov.in/contactus/cugtel/kunustoria.pdf | title = Area wise Closed User Group (CUG) Telephone Numbers | work = Kunustoria Area | publisher = Eastern Coalfields Limited | access-date = 18 August 2018}}</ref>

See also – [[Kajora Area#Mining plan]] – it includes a major portion of Kunustoria Area<br/>
See also – [[Satgram Area#Mining plan]] for Amritnagar and Mahabir collieries

[[Image:ECL Area Map.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Operational Areas of ECL (Source:[http://ismenvis.nic.in/Database/Parascole_West_Colliery_06071999_9295.aspx ENVIS Centre on Environmental Problems of Mining])]]

==Subsidence==
Traditionally many underground collieries have left a void after taking out the coal. As a result, almost all areas are facing subsidence. As per CMPDIL, there were 11 points of subsidence in the Kunustoria Area involving 399.21 hectares of land.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/66080/13/13_chapter%205.pdf | title = Coal mining impact on the environment | work = Pages 78-81 | publisher = Shodhganga | access-date = 18 August 2018}}</ref>

<section begin=rescue_operation />
==Mahabir Colliery rescue operations==
In 1989, Mahabir underground colliery was working in Narainkuri seam through A and B shafts, about 86 m. The overlying Ningah seam (parting 22 m) had been worked and abandoned a long time back. It was full of water. "On 13.11.1989 at about 4 a.m., a heading in Narainkuri seam punctured into an abandoned shaft (Pit No.34, which was not shown on the plan of Narainkuri seam) through which water of Ningah seam started rushing into Narainkuri seam. Heavy flow was reported for about 45 minutes. There were 232 persons employed below ground in the night shift of whom 161, working in the vicinity of the shafts, could come out. 71 could not reach the shafts as the roadways leading to the shafts had got flooded. In a short time, both the shafts got flooded up to a height of 12 m above the pit-bottom. Fortunately, there was a telephone connection between the underground workings (where the miners were trapped) and the surface and it was learnt over this telephone that 65 miners had taken shelter in the rise part of the workings. Thus 6 miners could not be accounted for."<ref name=rescue>{{cite web | url = http://ismenvis.nic.in/Database/Mahabir_Colliery_13111989_9459.aspx | title = Mahabir Colliery on 13.11.1989 | publisher = Envis Centre on Environmental Problems of Mining | access-date = 19 August 2018}}</ref>

Initially, pumping was resorted to but it did not prove to be an immediate success because much of the water was flowing back into the mine through surface cracks. At a later stage more fool proof pumping arrangements were made. Two exploration bore holes had been drilled in the past. One of the bore holes was activated with further boring and in about 24 hours from the time of flooding, torches, food, drinking water, medicines, etc. were lowered through this bore hole. A second bore hole of 200 mm (8") was bored and then widened in stages to 21.5" diameter. The top 11 m alluvium portion was further enlarged and lined with steel ducting to prevent it from caving in.

<ref name=rescue/>

{{OSM Location map
| width=430| height=400| zoom=11
| coord={{coord|23|41|0|N|87|5|20|E}}| float=left|caption='''Cities and towns in the eastern portion of Asansol Sadar subdivision in Paschim Bardhaman district'''<br/>MC: Municipal Corporation, CT: census town, N: neighbourhood, R: rural centre<br/>Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1={{coord|23|39|27|N|87|7|2|E}} | label-pos1=right|label1= Kunustara | numbered1=CT| mark-title1=Kunustara (CT)|label-color1=#800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1= #A40000|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|23|40|5|N|87|7|40|E}} | label-pos2=right|label2= Topsi| numbered2=CT| mark-title2=[[Topsi]] (CT)
|mark-coord3={{coord|23|43|26|N|87|11|57|E}} | label-pos3=right|label3= Nimsa| numbered3=CT| mark-title3=[[Nimsa]] (CT)
|mark-coord4={{coord|23|42|58|N|87|11|21|E}} | label-pos4=right|label4= Chinchuria| numbered4=CT| mark-title4=[[Chinchuria]] (CT)
|mark-coord5={{coord|23|40|38|N|87|10|9|E}} | label-pos5=right|label5= Kenda| numbered5=CT| mark-title5=[[Kenda]] (CT)
|mark-coord6={{coord|23|39|10|N|87|9|46|E}} | label-pos6=right|label6= Parasia| numbered6=CT| mark-title6=[[Parasia]] (CT)
|mark-coord7={{coord|23|39|14|N|87|2|9|E}} | label-pos7=left|label7= Ratibati| numbered7=CT| mark-title7=[[Ratibati]] (CT)
|mark-coord8={{coord|23|39|40|N|87|2|30|E}} | label-pos8=left|label8= Chapui| numbered8=CT| mark-title8=[[Chapui]] (CT)
|mark-coord9={{coord|23|39|5|N|87|4|11|E}} | label-pos9=top|label9= Jemari |labela9=(Jaykaynagar)| numbered9=CT| mark-title9=[[Jemari (J.K. Nagar Township)]] (CT)
|mark-coord10={{coord|23|37|45|N|87|8|22|E}} | label-pos10=right|label10= Banshra| numbered10=CT| mark-title10=[[Banshra]] (CT)
|mark-coord11={{coord|23|38|5|N|87|3|51|E}} | label-pos11=left|label11= Belebathan| numbered11=CT| mark-title11=[[Belebathan]] (CT)
|mark-coord12={{coord|23|38|28|N|87|2|3|E}} | label-pos12=left|label12= Chelad| numbered12=CT| mark-title12=[[Chelad]] (CT)
|mark-coord13={{coord|23|37|29|N|87|4|32|E}} | label-pos13=left|label13= Murgathaul| numbered13=CT| mark-title13=[[Murgathaul]] (CT)
|mark-coord14={{coord|23|36|57|N|87|5|4|E}} | label-pos14=left|label14= Amkula| numbered14=CT| mark-title14=[[Amkula]] (CT)
|mark-coord15={{coord|23|35|53|N|87|8|30|E}} | label-pos15=right|label15= Baktarnagar| numbered15=CT| mark-title15=[[Baktarnagar]] (CT)
|mark-coord16={{coord|23|36|33|N|87|6|01|E}} | label-pos16=left|label16= Egara| numbered16=CT| mark-title16=[[Egara, Paschim Bardhaman|Egara]] (CT)
|mark-coord17={{coord|23|35|21|N|87|6|21|E}} | label-pos17=left|label17= Sahebganj| numbered17=CT| mark-title17=[[Sahebganj, Paschim Bardhaman|Sahebganj]] (CT)
|mark-coord18={{coord|23|35|10|N|87|7|7|E}} | label-pos18=right|label18= Raghunathchak| numbered18=CT| mark-title18=[[Raghunathchak]] (CT)
|mark-coord19={{coord|23|34|50|N|87|7|32|E}} | label-pos19=right|label19= Ballavpur| numbered19=CT| mark-title19=[[Ballavpur]] (CT)
|mark-coord20={{coord|23|46|48|N|87|4|48|E}} | label-pos20=right|label20= Churulia| numbered20=R| mark-title20=[[Churulia]] (R)|shape-color20=#C42222
|mark-coord21={{coord|23|41|37|N|87|8|39|E}} | label-pos21=right|label21= Bahadurpur| numbered21=R| mark-title21=[[Bahadurpur, Paschim Bardhaman]] (R)|shape-color21=#C42222
|mark-coord22={{coord|23|42|7|N|87|2|53|E}} | label-pos22=left|label22=ECL Sripur |labela22= Area Office| numbered22=0 | mark-title22=[[Sripur Area|ECL Sripur Area Office]] (A)| label-size22=12| shape-color22=#AA6666
|mark-coord23={{coord|23|40|53|N|87|4|45|E}} | label-pos23=left|label23=ECL Satgram |labela23= Area Office |numbered23=0| mark-title23=[[Satgram Area|ECL Satgram Area Office]] (A)| label-size23=12| shape-color23=#AA6666
|mark-coord24={{coord|23|38|50|N|87|7|18|E}} | label-pos24=right|label24=ECL Kunustoria|labela24= Area Office|numbered24=0 | mark-title24=ECL Kunustoria Area Office (A)|shape-color24=black| label-size24=13|label-color24=black 
|mark-coord25={{coord|23|40|0|N|87|13|33|E}} | label-pos25=left|label25=ECL Kenda |labela25= Area Office |numbered25=0| mark-title25=[[Kenda Area|ECL Kenda Area Office]] (A)| label-size25=12| shape-color25=#AA6666
|mark-coord26={{coord|23|40|44|N|86|57|9|E}} | label-pos26=right|label-color26=#800000| label26=Asansol | numbered26=MC| mark-title26=[[Asansol]] (MC)|shape-color26=#800000
|mark-coord27={{coord|23|37|12|N|87|7|48|E}} | label-pos27=left|label27=Raniganj | numbered27=N| mark-title27= [[Raniganj]] (N)|shape-color27=#C42222
|mark-coord28={{coord|23|42|50|N|87|4|48|E}} | label-pos28=left|label28=Jamuria | numbered28=N| mark-title28= [[Jamuria]] (N)|shape-color28=#C42222
|mark-coord29={{coord|23.612489|87.032854}}| label29=Damodar River| label-color29 = #77A1CB| label-angle29=28| label-pos29=top| label-size29=10| mark-size29=0| mark-title29 =none
|mark-coord30={{coord|23.749367|87.157333}}| label30=Ajay River| label-color30 = #77A1CB| label-angle30=0| label-pos30=right| label-size30=10| mark-size30=0| mark-title30 =none}}

While drilling was going on, a steel capsule of 17" inside diameter and 2.5 m height had been fabricated. On 16.11.1989, after a few trial runs, Jaswant Singh Gill, Addl Chief Mining Engineer, risked his own life, and went down the bore hole in the capsule. The rescue operations started and the 65 trapped miners started coming up in the capsule, one-by-one. It took about 6 hours to complete the evacuation and the last person to come up was Jaswant Singh Gill.<ref name=rescue/>

"Over 20,000 people had assembled to witness the tension-charged rescue operation... when Shri Gill emerged from the capsule, people went mad with emotional outburst. They lifted him on their shoulders and heaped him with garlands. The scene cannot be described in words; it is best left to the imagination of the reader to re-create it in his own mind, and thus ended a glorious chapter in the history of Indian mining."<ref name=rescue/>

"Jaswant Singh Gill was honoured with India's highest civilian gallantry award [[Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak]] (SJRP) for saving the lives of 65 miners, by the President of India. Before Shri Gill, no living person had been honoured with this gallantry award. However, many people have received it posthumously. His historic act of bravery on November 16 is celebrated by Coal India Ltd as ‘Rescue Day’." Gill retired from Coal India as an Executive Director in 1998 and settled in Amritsar. ‘The Hero of Raniganj’ is still remembered by many people in many ways.<ref name=rescue/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sikhnet.com/news/sikh-hero-bengal-unknown-punjab | title = A Sikh Hero in Bengal, Unknown in Punjab | date = 16 October 2008 | publisher = Sikhnet, 16 October 2008 | access-date = 19 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.telegraphindia.com/1101019/jsp/bengal/story_13073520.jsp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101022031559/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101019/jsp/bengal/story_13073520.jsp | url-status = dead | archive-date = October 22, 2010 | title = Chile-like rescue in Bengal 21 years ago – Metal sheets beaten into a capsule to save 64 miners trapped 380ft underground for 4 days | publisher = The Telegraph, 19 October 2010 | access-date = 19 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/chandigarh/story-of-the-hero-of-raniganj-the-brave-engineer-jaswant-singh-gill | title = Story Of The Hero Of Raniganj, The Brave Engineer Jaswant Singh Gill | work = Photo Gallery| publisher = Amar Ujala, 9 June 2017| access-date = 19 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.telegraphindia.com/1131107/jsp/jharkhand/story_17536618.jsp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180819082922/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1131107/jsp/jharkhand/story_17536618.jsp | url-status = dead | archive-date = August 19, 2018 | title = A visual treat for children – Museum opens for public to mark CIL foundation day| publisher = The Telegraph, 7 November 2013 | access-date = 19 August 2018}}</ref>

<section end=rescue_operation />

==Migrants==
Prior to the advent of [[coal mining]], the entire region was a low-productive rice crop area in what was once a part of the [[Jungle Mahals]]. The ownership of land had passed on from local [[adivasi]]s to agricultural castes before mining started. However, the [[Santal people|Santhals]] and the [[Bauris]], referred to by the colonial administrators as "traditional coal cutters of Raniganj" remained attached to their lost land and left the mines for agricultural related work, which also was more remunerative. It forced the mine-owners to bring in outside labour, mostly from Bihar, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. In time the migrants dominated the mining and industrial scenario. The pauperization and alienation of the adivasis have been major points of social concern.<ref name=illegalmining1>{{cite web | url = https://www.academia.edu/3141696 | title = Unintended Collieries: People and Resources in Eastern India | first= Kuntala|last=Lahiri-Dutt | work= Resource Management in Asia-Pacific, Working Paper No. 44, 2003| date = January 2003 | publisher = RMAP Working Papers | access-date = 11 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://inet.vidyasagar.ac.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/123456789/1245/2/2.pdf | title = Industrialisation and Emergence of Labour Force in Bengal during The Colonial Period: Its Socio-Economic Impact | first = Nirban |last= Basu | work = Vidyasagar University Journal of History|volume=1|date=2012–2013 | access-date = 11 August 2018}}</ref>

==Transport==
{{Andal–Sainthia branch line|collapse=yes}}
The [[Andal-Sainthia branch line|Andal-Jamuria-Sitarampur branch line]] passes through the Kunustoria Area.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://indiarailinfo.com/train/timetable/andal-jasidih-demu-73539/15359/585/326 |title = 73539 Andal-Jasidih DEMU |work = Time Table | publisher= indiarailinfo | access-date = 18 August 2018}}</ref>

[[National Highway 19 (India)|NH 19]] (old number NH 2) and [[National Highway 14 (India)|NH 14]] (old number NH 60) pass through the Kunustoria Area.<ref name="renumber">{{cite web|url=http://dorth.gov.in/writereaddata/sublinkimages/finaldoc6143316640.pdf|title=Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways|publisher=[[Department of Road Transport and Highways]]|access-date=10 February 2017|location=New Delhi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201124738/http://dorth.gov.in/writereaddata/sublinkimages/finaldoc6143316640.pdf|archive-date=1 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Healthcare==
Bansra Hospital of ECL functions with 50 beds.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wbpublibnet.gov.in/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/uploads/pdf/eastern_coldfields_limiteds_hospital.pdf| title = Eastern Coalfields Limited's Hospitals| publisher = Government of West Bengal| access-date = 18 August 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170426153142/http://www.wbpublibnet.gov.in/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/uploads/pdf/eastern_coldfields_limiteds_hospital.pdf| archive-date = 26 April 2017| url-status = dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Operational Areas of ECL}}
{{Paschim Bardhaman topics}}

==See also==
*[[Mission Raniganj]]

[[Category:Coal mining operational areas in West Bengal]]

Kunustoria Area - Revision history

Vemareddy at 00:15, 11 April 2026