The Burning City

The Burning City: I have been documenting life in and around the Jharia Coalfield for the past seven years. one of India’s largest and most hazardous coal mining regions. This long-term project captures the stark realities of those living amid the underground fires that have been burning for more than a century.

Through my lens, I have witnessed firsthand the struggles of coal miners and their families communities forced to endure toxic air, contaminated water, and unlivable conditions. The high carbon emissions in Jharia have led to widespread respiratory illnesses, lung infections, heart conditions, and intergenerational health crises. Many children, some as young as six or seven, sacrifice their childhoods for survival. They wake before dawn to collect and sell coal, trapped in a cycle of poverty with little hope of escape.

In the shadows of the mines, life remains perilously fragile. Workers often succumb to disease, accidents, and landslides frequently without compensation or acknowledgment.

This project is more than a series of photographs. It is a testament to resilience and suffering, and a call to action for awareness and change.