India, Dec. 4 -- In a suspected "toxic gas leak" in Jharkhand, at least two women have died and over a dozen other people are in hospital in the Kenduadih area of Dhanbad district, reports said on Thursday, December 4. Protests have since begun as the authorities are looking for the source and cause of the suspected gas leak.

The deaths of Priyanka Devi on Wednesday evening and Lalita Devi early Thursday deepened fear among residents, news agency ANI reported. Locals said "gas exposure" caused the deaths, but officials maintain that the exact reason will be confirmed only after post-mortem reports are released.

The affected region is part of the government-owned Bharat Coking Coal Limited's (BCCL) coal-mining area, and the company has s...