This Indian Town Has Been Burning For 109 Years, The Earth Still Won’t Cool Down

Once known for its high-quality coking coal that powered India’s steel industry, this small Jharkhand town now lies under a cloud of smoke and fire. What was once its greatest resource has become its gravest crisis, as underground coal fires continue to consume the land and endanger lives in Jharia.

The coal mine fire, which began around 1916, was not a natural disaster but a result of unscientific mining and poor safety practices. After extraction, several mine sections were left exposed, causing the coal to catch fire upon contact with air. What started as a small blaze has now spread through vast underground layers, engulfing hundreds of square kilometers in Jharia.

Coal continues to smoulder beneath the surface, releasing intense heat and toxic gases. In several areas, the ground has