At least four persons died in a tragic accident during alleged illegal coal mining activities in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district on Saturday after becoming trapped inside a deep pit near a closed coal mine.
Preliminary investigations suggest that a severe lack of oxygen and the presence of toxic gases inside the mine led to their deaths.
The incident occurred in the Cashew Garden forest area near the closed CCL Argada mine.
According to officials, the four youths had entered a pit approximately 30 feet deep at around 9 a.m. to extract coal illegally. Shortly after descending into the pit, they reportedly experienced breathing difficulties due to oxygen depletion and toxic gases, leaving them trapped underground.
The accident triggered panic in the area, following which rescue and emergency teams were rushed to the site. CCL officials reached the location and supervised rescue operations.
A 12-member mines rescue team, along with a five-member medical team, was deployed to carry out the operation.
After extensive efforts, rescuers managed to bring the four youths out of the pit. They were identified as Kishore and Ashish, residents of Sirka Budhbazar, and Deva and W. (Wblu), residents of Tongi village.
The victims were examined by medical personnel and subsequently taken to hospital, where doctors declared all four dead.
Rescue officials said oxygen levels near the upper section of the mine were measured at around 9 per cent, far below normal atmospheric levels. At a depth of more than 30 feet, oxygen concentration had dropped to just 2 percent.
Investigators also detected carbon dioxide and other toxic gases inside the mine, which are believed to have caused suffocation and death.
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