Two bodies were recovered after the roof of an illegal mica mine caved in at a forest area in Giridih district of Jharkhand, around 240km from state capital Ranchi, on Monday morning.

Giridih deputy commissioner Naman Priyesh Lakra said that after a massive rescue operation, the administration had been able to recover the bodies of two villagers while four injured villagers have been sent to the Sadar Hospital for treatment.

“There have been reports of such illegal mines and we do carry out demolition work with bulldozers and will do the same for this illegal mine area too. We will also arrange for compensation for the deceased villagers’ dependents based on government provision,” said Lakra.

The illegal mine was operational at Mudhgarhwa forest range of Giridih East forest division under Gawan block of Giridih district when the roof of the mine collapsed leading to the villagers being trapped.

The deceased have been identified as Sukar Hansda (35) and Souna Hansda (30), both residents of Rangamati village under Tisri police station area. The injured have been identified as Dhunu Hansda (16), Nanki Devi (32), Gulo Rai (54) and Arti Devi (40), all from Rangamati village.

Giridih SP Amit Renu said they have identified the illegal mine’s operator and action will be taken on the basis of the forest department’s FIR.

Mica extracted from such illegal and abandoned mines are sold to intermediaries and then exported to cosmetic manufacturers as it is used to add glitter to natural cosmetics and is a key ingredient in products such as facepacks, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and nail polish.

The mines have been closed but people owing to poverty and lack of job opportunity engage in scrap mining at the risk of their lives.