Dhanbad, Dec. 4 -- Tension gripped the Kenduadih area in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Thursday after a gas leak claimed the lives of two women, triggering massive outrage among residents.

Enraged villagers blocked the Dhanbad-Ranchi main road and set tyres ablaze, accusing the district administration and BCCL management of negligence and demanding immediate action.

G. Saha, General Manager, PB Area, Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) said, "Don't stay in such a place. Constant exposure to gas can damage the body... We are doing whatever work is necessary on this... This settlement was built after the earlier mining work... This is a fire-prone area, and we have been declaring it unsafe for years....."

Station in-charge, Kenduadih, Pramod...