Dhanbad mine gas leak: Experts find CO level 'dangerously high' in affected areas
A team of experts who visited the Kenduadih area of Jharkhand's Dhanbad district, which reported a toxic gas leak incident on Wednesday, has recorded carbon monoxide (CO) levels in the air as dangerously high, at up to 1,500 parts per million (PPM). At least two women were killed while over 20 others complained of vomiting and headache, allegedly due to leakage of toxic carbon monoxide gas in the Putki Balihari Colliery Area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL)in Dhanbad's Kenduadih. Officials are yet to confirm the cause of the women's death. According to the experts, the CO levels in the area is around 30 times higher than the permissible limit, as the dangerous level of carbon monoxide concentration starts with 50 PPM. A joint experts' team of Dhanbad IIT-ISM and Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) visited Rajput Basti, Masjid Muhalla and Area No.5 of the Putki-Balihari colliery area on Friday to assess the carbon monoxide levels, said Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan. The experts recorded the level of carbon monoxide at up to 1,500 PPM, which poses a serious threat to human health, and recommended immediate shifting of residents from Rajput Basti. Headache appears when the level reaches 200 PPM, and symptoms like dizziness, nausea and unconsciousness begin at 800 PPM, the expert said. According to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the permissible limit for CO is 2 mg/m3 (milligram per cubic meter) for an eight-hour average in residential areas, and 4 mg/m3 for a one-hour average, a Ranchi-based environmentalist said. The 1,500 ppm CO concentration is dangerously high for human survival, said the environmentalist who refused to be quoted. Ranjan said, People from the affected areas are being shifted to temporary camps. So far, around 400 people have been shifted. The process is on to shift the rest of the residents from the area. A section of the locals said they are worried about their livelihood in new areas and are not in favour of shifting. The DC himself visited the affected sites on Friday and assessed the condition of the people living in the area. The problem did not arise now; it has existed for decades. Due to different reasons, the residents could not be shifted to a safe place, Ranjan said. The area has long been declared a 'danger zone' due to underground mine fires. The DC said he urged the residents to shift to a safe place as soon as possible. An arrangement has been made at Belagadia and Karmatand. For the time being, temporary accommodation has been provided till the situation becomes normal in the area, Ranjan said. (With inputs from PTI) Dhanbad DC orders detailed enquiry into toxic gas leak incident that killed two
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