Dhanbad, March 25: Angry residents of Meharibandh locality today blocked the Jharia-Baliapur road for more than four hours after an abandoned mine at Kujama colliery suddenly caught fire.

Though no casualty has been reported, tension looms large in the area. Eyewitnesses said at about 5 am today, flames were seen coming out of the abandoned mines. The blaze was accompanied by explosions from the mines, triggering panic in the area.

The blockade was removed after the local police intervened and Bharat Coking Coal Limited’s Area IX general manager A.K.C. Paharia promised to fill up the mine with sand and water.

The residents have decided to wait for another 10 days for BCCL to fill up the mine. They threatened to launch an agitation if the BCCL failed to keep its word.