Ranchi, June 14: A tragic incident occurred in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district, where four young men lost their lives due to a gas leak while illegally mining in an abandoned coal mine. The accident took place on Saturday in the Argada forest area near the Giddi-Ramgarh border when the group descended into the mine for excavation. Among the deceased, two were from Ramgarh and two from Hazaribagh district.
Reports indicate that the first victim was overcome by toxic gas and lost consciousness. In an attempt to rescue him, three of his companions descended one by one, only to succumb to the gas as well.
The victims have been identified as Ashish Rajwar (25), Kishore Rawani (35), Deva Kumar Bediya (25), and W Bediya (30). Deva Kumar Bediya and W Bediya were residents of the Sirka Argada area in Hazaribagh, while Ashish Rajwar and Kishore Rawani lived in the Sirka Buddha Market area of Ramgarh.
Upon receiving news of the incident, local police and villagers rushed to the scene. The Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) rescue team from the Neesarai mines was called in. A 14-member rescue team undertook the operation, with seven members equipped with safety gear entering the mine. After about an hour of effort, all four young men were retrieved and rushed to the hospital.
Medical professionals declared two of the men dead upon arrival, while the other two succumbed to their injuries during treatment. According to administrative officials, initial investigations revealed dangerously low oxygen levels and high concentrations of toxic gases within the mine.
It is believed that the four men died from asphyxiation, although the exact cause of death will be confirmed following the post-mortem report, which is being conducted under video surveillance.
The police have initiated an investigation into the incident. Local residents have expressed concerns about the long-standing risk of gas leaks in abandoned mines in the area. Meanwhile, Aditya Sahu, the state president of the BJP, expressed condolences over the tragedy and accused the administration of negligence, demanding accountability in the matter.
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