Mining dust fuels silicosis epidemic in Rajasthan's Aravalli villages

Manisha, 27, now lives alone in her home in Syalodra village after her husband Manjeet died from silicosis, a debilitating and irreversible lung condition. Stacks of oxygen cylinders that once sustained the 32-year-old labourer remain in the corner of their veranda—a stark reminder of his three-year battle with the disease.

Manjeet worked at a nearby stone crushing unit, where he inhaled fine silica particles generated during mining activities including drilling, blasting, and crushing operations. These particles accumulate in workers' lungs, causing permanent scarring and respiratory failure. Village residents report that silicosis has claimed more than 50 lives in Syalodra over recent years, reflecting a broader health crisis linked to intensive mining in the Aravalli range.

Despite the severity of the situation, a Supreme Court-appointed panel tasked with assessing the environmental and social impact of mining activities in the Aravallis concluded its field assessments on August 11 without visiting Syalodra or many other mining-affected communities in the Kotputli-Behror and Sikar regions. The omission raises questions about the comprehensiveness of the judicial inquiry into one of northern India's most significant mining-related public health challenges.