SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 7: Amid tense protests and deep mistrust among residents, a National Disaster Response Force team from Ranchi on Sunday entered Rajput Basti in the Putki–Balihari Colliery Area to assess the suspected poisonous gas emission that has triggered panic, hospitalisations and fears of large-scale displacement in one of Dhanbad’s most vulnerable underground fire zones.
NDRF begins assessment under police and CISF security
The NDRF team, accompanied by officials of the district administration, Kenduadih police and CISF personnel, reached the site around afternoon to inspect the leakage reported near the abandoned GM Bangla of PB Area. Gas emission has been detected at three locations—Rajput Basti, Muslim Muhalla and near the Kenduadih police station building.
Though NDRF members declined to comment, Kenduadih police station officer-in-charge Prabodh Pandey said the team is checking the level of gas leakage, identifying the type of gas, and assessing the steps needed to control it. The team’s visit follows instructions issued by Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan after rising health complaints and continued reports of emission.
Two deaths earlier; dozens hospitalised
The gas leak was first reported on Wednesday in Rajput Basti, where two women died and more than two dozen residents—mostly women and children—were admitted to BCCL’s Kustore Regional Hospital and Central Hospital, Dhanbad. By Sunday evening, no new cases had been reported, though residents said they could still detect a faint gas smell in the area.
Residents block NDRF, allege forced eviction plans
As the NDRF team began its ground assessment on Sunday, residents of Rajput Basti strongly protested and tried to halt the operation. Protesters alleged that BCCL was using the “dangerous gas leakage” as a pretext to clear the settlement for a planned mega coal project. Nearly 302 unauthorised families currently live in the fire-affected danger zone of Rajput Basti.
Local resident Lal Bahadur Singh accused BCCL of “trying to evict poor families under the guise of safety”, claiming that previous attempts to shift the settlement had failed due to community resistance.
Residents taken to view relocation site at Belagadia Township
Earlier in the day, residents from the danger zone were taken in two buses to Belagadia Township to inspect the housing where they are expected to be shifted. The township, developed by the Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority, is intended for relocating unauthorised occupants living above hazardous underground mine fire zones across Jharia coalfield.
PB Area general manager JK Mehta told media persons that NDRF is assessing the impact and spots of leakage so that it doesn’t spread in other areas .
