Death toll rises to 3 in Dhanbad gas leak crisis, angry locals block road

The ongoing toxic gas leak crisis in the Kenduadih area of Dhanbad took a grim turn on Tuesday as a 40-year-old resident, Surendra Singh, became the third victim of the disaster. Singh’s death at the Sahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital (SNMMCH) triggered immediate outrage among his family members and neighbors. As soon as his body reached the locality, angry residents blocked the Dhanbad-Karkend main road, placing the corpse in front of the Kenduadih police station and bringing traffic to a complete standstill.

Protesters have placed the blame squarely on the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) management, accusing them of "murder through negligence." Local residents, led by activist Krishna Rawat, alleged that they had warned the authorities a week ago about the dangerously high levels of gas in the Naya Dhauda area. They had specifically requested boreholes and nitrogen filling to suppress the underground fire and gas, but their pleas reportedly fell on deaf ears. The community is now demanding immediate compensation for the deceased's family and concrete security assurances.

In response to the escalating tension, a heavy contingent of police and CISF personnel has been deployed to the site. Senior officials, including Putki Circle Officer (CO) Vikas Anand and Magistrate RN Thakur, reached the protest spot to negotiate with the agitated crowd. While the administration maintains that technical experts are working round the clock on rescue operations, the third casualty has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the containment measures implemented so far.