Ranchi, Aug 19 - The Jharkhand government is exploring the possibility of a second diversion for the closed Ranchi-Patna National Highway (NH-33) as the road being used now is also being threatened by an underground mine fire.

The NH-33 which connects Ranchi and Patna via Hazaribagh and Koderma was closed on Aug 7 because of an underground mine fire which touched the road. A new diversion was proposed 100 metres away from the closed national highway.

Smoke and flames were emanating below the diversion proposed earlier. 'We are exploring a new diversion about 300 metres from the closed national highway. The new diversion will be finalised after assessing the geological features of the area,' Road and Construction Secretary N.N. Singh told IANS.

According to officials, the new routing of the national highway could be completed within three months. But they have not been able to finalise the route as the underground mine fire is threatening to a three square km area.