The explosion at the Dhori Colliery occurred at about 1am, killing 268 underground miners, and a total of 375 including those above ground, and remains the worst mining accident in India’s history.
The Dhori Colliery still operates today, and was privately owned by Bokaro & Ramgarh Ltd at the time of the accident.
The disaster on 28 May, 1968 was caused by an explosion in the Dhori Colliery which can be found near Dhanbad, the major coal mining town in India.
375 miners were killed in the disaster following an underground firedamp and coal dust explosion.
The fire is suspected to have been sparked by the hurricane lantern carried by a person who entered the underground gallery.
The mine’s management claimed it was an intentional act, but this theory was swiftly dismissed by the Court of Enquiry, which attributed the accident to (i) lack of ventilation, (ii) the use of naked lights (lamps) in the mine, and (iii) the presence of coal dust and the failure to treat it properly.
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