Century-old fires on Indian coalfields put workers' lives at risk
Century-old fires on Indian coalfields put workers' lives at risk

Raging non-stop for a century, underground fires pose a serious threat to those working on coalfields in the Indian state of Dhanbad.

The fires, which scientists believe started in a 1916 mining accident, cause sinkholes which swallow people and homes.

Coal pickers say that hundreds have died over the years, but for many whose livelihoods depend on the in-demand fuel, leaving the danger behind is not an option.