Dhanbad: Over 1,000 residents, including those from the Kenduadih Basti, Dhanbad, are being shifted to safer locations after a poisonous gas leak from underground coal mines caused panic in the area, officials confirmed on Thursday.

The incident has left 12 people sick and allegedly claimed the life of a woman. However, authorities have stated that the exact cause of her death will only be confirmed after the postmortem report.

What caused the gas leak?

Preliminary reports suggest that carbon monoxide, a colourless and highly toxic gas, leaked from underground mines in multiple parts of Kenduadih Basti. Carbon monoxide can be fatal in enclosed spaces as it prevents oxygen from entering the bloodstream, causing dizziness, nausea, and, in severe cases, death.

Immediate response by authorities

Following the leak, Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) swiftly initiated the evacuation of residents from high-risk zones. Notices were pasted on the walls of homes in the affected area, urging residents to vacate the premises immediately.

G C Saha, GM of BCCL's Putki-Balihati Colliery Area, told reporters, "The company is making arrangments to shift the residents to safer places. For safety of life and property, we have already requested them to leave the dangerous zone."