Four dead after toxic gas exposure in Jharkhand's Ramgarh coal mine
Synopsis
Four young men entered an abandoned coal mine in Jharkhand's Ramgarh to excavate illegally — and never came out alive. One collapsed from toxic gas; the other three descended to save him and met the same fate. The tragedy exposes a long-standing and largely unaddressed hazard: decommissioned collieries across Jharkhand's coal belt that remain accessible, ungated, and lethally gassed.
Key Takeaways
Four youths died after inhaling toxic gas in an abandoned coal mine in Ramgarh district, Jharkhand , on 13 June .
The victims were Ashish Rajwar (25) , Kishor Ravani (35) , Deva Kumar Bedia (25) , and W Bedia (30) — two from Ramgarh, two from Hazaribagh.
A 14-member rescue team from Central Coalfields Limited extracted all four after nearly an hour-long operation .
Preliminary findings cite extremely low oxygen levels and high toxic gas concentration; suffocation is suspected pending post-mortem.
BJP state president Aditya Sahu alleged administrative negligence and demanded accountability.
Local residents say gas leakage risks in abandoned mines in the area have been ignored for years.
Four youths died after inhaling toxic gas inside an abandoned coal mine in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district on Saturday, 13 June, officials confirmed. The victims had entered a closed mine in the Argadda forest area along the Giddi-Ramgarh border for illegal excavation work, and succumbed after being overcome by gas and severely low oxygen levels.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
According to officials, one youth first lost consciousness after inhaling toxic gas deep inside the mine. His three companions descended one after another in an attempt to rescue him — each collapsing in turn after exposure to the same gas. None of the four could exit on their own.
The deceased have been identified as Ashish Rajwar (25) and Kishor Ravani (35), both residents of the Sirka Buddha Bazaar locality in Ramgarh, and Deva Kumar Bedia (25) and W Bedia (30), both from the Sirka-Argadda area in Hazaribagh.
Rescue Operation and Medical Response
Local police and villagers reached the site shortly after the incident was reported. A 14-member rescue team from Central Coalfields Limited's Naisarai mines was deployed, with seven members entering the mine equipped with safety gear. After nearly an hour-long operation, all four were extracted and rushed to hospital.
Doctors declared two of the four dead on arrival; the remaining two succumbed during treatment.
Preliminary Findings
Administrative officials said initial findings point to extremely low oxygen levels and a high concentration of toxic gases inside the mine. Suffocation is suspected as the cause of death, though this will be confirmed only after post-mortem reports. The examinations are being conducted under videography, and police have launched a formal investigation.
Political Response and Residents' Concerns
Local residents alleged that the risk of gas leakage in abandoned mines in the area has persisted for a long time, pointing to a pattern of neglect around decommissioned collieries in the region. State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Aditya Sahu expressed grief over the deaths and alleged administrative negligence, demanding accountability from the authorities.
This incident highlights the recurring danger posed by abandoned mines across Jharkhand's coal belt, where illegal entry for scrap or coal extraction remains common despite known hazards. Authorities are expected to review safety protocols around closed mines in the district in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Point of View
Yet enforcement against illegal entry and physical sealing of such sites remains patchy at best. The fact that a rescue team had to be summoned from Central Coalfields Limited — rather than a dedicated district emergency unit — underscores how thin the safety net is. Four deaths that began as a rescue attempt gone wrong should force a reckoning: how many decommissioned mines across the coal belt remain open, ungated, and unmonitored?
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Ramgarh coal mine incident?
Four youths died after inhaling toxic gas inside an abandoned coal mine in Ramgarh district, Jharkhand, on 13 June. They had entered the closed mine in the Argadda forest area for illegal excavation, and one by one collapsed after exposure to gas and oxygen-deficient air.
Who were the victims of the Ramgarh mine tragedy?
The four deceased were Ashish Rajwar (25) and Kishor Ravani (35) from the Sirka Buddha Bazaar locality in Ramgarh, and Deva Kumar Bedia (25) and W Bedia (30) from the Sirka-Argadda area in Hazaribagh.
What caused the deaths inside the mine?
Administrative officials said preliminary findings indicate extremely low oxygen levels and a high concentration of toxic gases inside the mine. Suffocation is the suspected cause of death, though the exact cause will be confirmed only after post-mortem reports.
How were the victims rescued from the mine?
A 14-member rescue team from Central Coalfields Limited's Naisarai mines was deployed, with seven members entering the mine with safety gear. After nearly an hour-long operation, all four were extracted and taken to hospital, where they were subsequently declared dead.
What action has been taken after the Ramgarh mine deaths?
Police have initiated a formal investigation, and post-mortem examinations are being conducted under videography. BJP state president Aditya Sahu has demanded administrative accountability. Local residents have called for long-overdue action on gas leakage risks in abandoned mines across the area.
