A suspected toxic gas leak in the Kenduadih area of Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district has resulted in the deaths of two women and left more than a dozen residents hospitalised, triggering protests and mass evacuation efforts. The incident occurred in a region that falls under the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) mining zone, an area long marked as unsafe due to underground fires and hazardous conditions.
The deaths of Priyanka Devi on Wednesday evening and Lalita Devi early Thursday intensified fears among residents who believe that exposure to toxic gas is to blame. Locals reported symptoms of suffocation and breathlessness among several people, but officials have stated that the exact cause of death will be known only after post-mortem examinations. As the situation escalated, BCCL began evacuating families living in the densely populated mining belt, affecting neighbourhoods with nearly 10,000 residents, including Rajput Basti, Masjid Mohalla and Officer Colony.
Tension heightened on Thursday morning when villagers blocked the Dhanbad–Ranchi highway, burning tyres and demanding immediate relocation to safer areas. The blockade lasted nearly four hours before negotiations with the district administration temporarily restored order. Residents recounted disturbing symptoms, including foaming at the mouth, and said that up to 20 people were showing signs of illness. Many accused authorities of years of negligence, claiming they had repeatedly received notices to vacate without being provided alternative housing.
Former Dhanbad mayor Chandrashekhar Agarwal criticised the administration and BCCL for failing to implement long-promised rehabilitation plans. BCCL officials, meanwhile, have been urging residents to evacuate using loudspeakers, saying the area has been fire-prone for years and poses severe dangers. The company has erected temporary tents to shield families from further exposure while emergency crews work to contain the gas.
PB Area General Manager G. Saha reiterated that only a full evacuation can guarantee long-term safety, as underground coal fires and gas leaks have been ongoing concerns for decades. Putki Circle Officer Anand Kumar added that efforts are underway to close off the source of the gas, but warned that clarity on the deaths will emerge only after medical reports are available. Kenduadih police station authorities confirmed that two people have died due to suspected gas exposure and said measures are being intensified to prevent further casualties.
The unfolding crisis has once again spotlighted the long-standing environmental and safety challenges in Dhanbad’s mining zones, where thousands continue to live in hazardous conditions with limited relocation options.
