Four young individuals tragically lost their lives after inhaling toxic gas while engaged in illegal mining in an abandoned coal mine in Ramgarh, Jharkhand. The incident took place in the Argadda forest area near the Giddi-Ramgarh border, where the group had entered the closed mine for excavation work. Among the deceased, two were from Ramgarh district, while the other two were from Hazaribagh.
The sequence of events unfolded when one of the youths fainted due to exposure to toxic gas inside the mine. In a bid to rescue their companion, the remaining three youths descended into the mine successively, only to succumb to the poisonous gas themselves. The victims have been identified as Ashish Rajwar (25), Kishor Ravani (35), Deva Kumar Bedia (25), and W Bedia (30).
Following the tragedy, local authorities and villagers responded promptly to the scene. A 14-member rescue team from Central Coalfields Limited’s Naisarai mines was mobilized, with seven members entering the mine wearing safety equipment. After an intensive operation lasting nearly an hour, all four youths were extricated and rushed to a medical facility.
Upon arrival at the hospital, two of the victims were pronounced dead, while the other two passed away during treatment. Initial investigations by administrative officials suggest that the mine had extremely low oxygen levels and a high concentration of toxic gases, leading to suspicions of death by suffocation. However, the exact cause of death will be ascertained following the post-mortem examinations.
The post-mortems are being conducted under videography, and authorities have launched an inquiry into the incident. Local residents have raised concerns about the persistent risk of gas leaks in the region’s abandoned mines. State BJP president Aditya Sahu expressed sorrow over the tragedy and criticized alleged administrative lapses, calling for accountability in the matter.
