By Admin 
Suddenly poisonous gas started leaking in the closed coal mine area of BCCL located in Kenduadih, Dhanbad late on Wednesday night, due to which panic spread in the area. One woman and one man died due to gas inhalation, while more than a dozen people are ill.
After this incident, local people blocked the Dhanbad-Ranchi highway and protested strongly. BCCL’s forensic team and police force are deployed on the spot to ascertain the type of gas and the source of the leak.
Panic due to gas leak, strong foul smell in many localities
Gas kept spreading with strong foul smell since late night in Rajput Basti, Masjid Mohalla, number 5 and many surrounding parts of Kenduadih police station area. As soon as the information was received, BCCL officials, safety officers and Kenduadih police station in-charge reached the affected areas with gas detector machines. Preliminary investigation has indicated that gas is coming out from the bushy area of GM Guest House near the police station. However, the type of gas has not been confirmed yet.
BCCL team’s investigation continues, search for source intensified
The safety officer of Kusunda area said that there is a possibility of poisonous gas being present in the surrounding areas and the level of foul smell is very high. Officials are reporting the matter to higher levels and the process to stop the leak has been initiated. According to BCCL agent Lakhan Lal Baranwal, the exact location of the gas is being discovered, and as soon as the source is clear, the work of filling it will be started immediately. Continuous investigation is going on with gas detector machines.
Local people ill, admitted to hospital
Due to gas leakage, many people in the area are complaining of headache, vomiting and difficulty in breathing. Some people had to be taken to hospital for treatment. Local resident Tinku Ansari said that many people suddenly became unconscious. Mahesh Goswami said that his daughter got dizzy and fell down as soon as she came out of the house and the doctors told that it was the effect of poisonous gas. Many families have shifted to other places as a precautionary measure.
Kenduadih police station in-charge Pramod Pandey said that as soon as the information was received from the councilor and local people, the police called the BCCL team. At present, all the teams are working together to stop the gas leak and bring the situation back to normal. The administration has appealed to the people to exercise caution and stay away from the affected area.