Aravalli mining dust kills 50 in one Rajasthan village, SC panel skips visit

More than 50 people have died from silicosis in Rajasthan's Syalodra village, part of the Aravalli range, where decades of mining have filled the air with silica dust. Manjeet, a 32-year-old stone crusher worker, died from the incurable lung disease after three years of treatment. His widow Manisha said the administration never came to help, and a Supreme Court-appointed panel reviewing the Aravalli boundaries did not visit Syalodra or other mining-affected areas during its field visits that ended on August 11.

A 2023 study examined Rajasthan's certification portal and found 23,436 certified silicosis cases, including 6,876 deaths. Environmentalist Kailash Meena said the true burden is far higher because many patients cannot afford the multiple hospital visits needed for certification. The panel's report is due November 30, but the Supreme Court refused a six-month extension. The Hindu reports that Aravalli districts account for 77% of all illegal mining FIRs in Rajasthan, even though they hold only 45% of mining leases.