Dhanbad Authorities Mandate Immediate Evacuation from Underground Fire Zone
In a critical move to address escalating safety concerns, Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan of Dhanbad declared on Thursday that 535 families will be evacuated from Kenduadih, an area severely impacted by an underground fire and hazardous gas leakage. The announcement came after a thorough inspection of the affected zones by Ranjan and Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar, who urgently appealed to residents in the danger zone to relocate to safer locations without delay.
Comprehensive Assessment of Hazardous Conditions
The officials initiated their visit by evaluating the Dhanbad–Bokaro road, a stretch already deemed unsafe for public use due to fire damage and subsidence. Following this, they inspected the site of the gas leakage and convened a high-level review meeting at Kenduadih police station. The meeting included senior officials from Bharat Coking Coal Limited, such as chairman-cum-managing director Manoj Kumar Agarwal and director of technical operations Sanjay Kumar Singh, to coordinate emergency response efforts.
Prioritizing Rehabilitation and Safety Measures
Addressing the media post-meeting, Ranjan emphasized that relocating families from fire-affected and subsidence-prone areas to Belgadia township is the district administration's foremost priority. He confirmed that 535 families have been identified for rehabilitation, with plans to include additional households that were inadvertently omitted during the initial survey. Ranjan warned residents that the gas leakage, fueled by the underground fire, is unlikely to cease and could worsen over time, posing an increasing threat to life and property.
He further highlighted that expert institutions, including IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), and the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR), have classified the entire Kenduadih area as a 'danger zone'. These experts have cautioned about the potential for more severe conditions in the future, necessitating immediate action. In response to the infrastructure risks, the Kenduadih police station will be relocated to the old BSNL telephone exchange building in Kendua by Monday, ensuring operational continuity while safeguarding personnel.
The district administration's proactive measures underscore a commitment to public safety amid the ongoing environmental crisis, with continuous monitoring and updates planned to manage the situation effectively.
