Daijiworld Media Network - Ramgarh
Ramgarh, Jun 13: Four young men lost their lives after inhaling toxic gas while allegedly carrying out illegal excavation inside a closed coal mine in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district on Saturday, officials said.
The tragic incident occurred in the Argadda forest region near the Giddi-Ramgarh border, where a group of youths had reportedly entered an abandoned mine. Preliminary reports suggest that one of them first became unconscious after being exposed to poisonous gases inside the shaft.
In an attempt to save him, three companions descended into the mine one after another. However, they too were overcome by the toxic atmosphere and collapsed inside the mine, turning the rescue effort into a fatal tragedy.
The deceased were identified as Ashish Rajwar (25), Kishor Ravani (35), Deva Kumar Bedia (25) and W. Bedia (30). Ashish Rajwar and Kishor Ravani were residents of the Sirka Buddha Bazaar area in Ramgarh district, while Deva Kumar Bedia and W. Bedia belonged to the Sirka-Argadda region of neighbouring Hazaribagh district.
Following the incident, local residents alerted authorities, prompting police and rescue personnel to rush to the site. A 14-member rescue team from the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) Naisarai mines was deployed to carry out the operation.
Seven members of the team entered the abandoned mine equipped with safety gear and breathing apparatus. After a rescue operation lasting nearly an hour, all four victims were brought to the surface and transported to a nearby hospital.
Doctors declared two of the men dead on arrival, while the remaining two succumbed to their injuries during treatment.
Officials said initial findings indicate that the mine contained dangerously low oxygen levels along with a high concentration of toxic gases. Investigators suspect suffocation caused by the hazardous environment led to the deaths, although the exact cause will be determined after post-mortem examinations.
Authorities have ordered videographed post-mortem procedures, and police have launched a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Residents of the area alleged that abandoned mines in the region have long posed safety hazards, with concerns over gas accumulation and illegal mining activities repeatedly raised in the past.
Reacting to the incident, Aditya Sahu expressed grief over the loss of lives and accused the administration of negligence. He called for accountability and a thorough probe into the incident to determine whether lapses in monitoring abandoned mining sites contributed to the tragedy.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers associated with illegal mining operations and the risks posed by disused mines that continue to attract unauthorized excavation activities despite safety concerns.