Islamabad, 31 July (H.S.): At least 34 miners have been killed after an explosion ripped through a coal mine in the southwestern region of Pakistan, with several others reported missing. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said the accident occurred on Thursday in the Sorange area on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. Rescue teams are working on a war footing to reach the remaining miners trapped inside the mine tunnels.
According to reports by The News and Dunya News, PDMA officials said on Friday morning that the coal mine collapsed following the explosion. The death toll has risen to 34 after six more bodies were recovered from the mine. Rescue teams are still attempting to reach dozens of miners feared trapped inside the tunnels.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has sought a detailed report into the incident. He warned that strict action would be taken if any negligence was found in the relief and rescue operations. He also directed authorities to ensure strict enforcement of safety regulations in coal mines across the province.
Provincial Mines and Minerals Minister Shoaib Nosherwani said that rescue teams were continuing their efforts despite extremely challenging conditions. He added that all available resources were being utilised to reach the workers trapped inside the affected mine. He also announced financial assistance of Rs 500,000 each for the families of those killed and Rs 300,000 each for the injured.
Coal mine owner Qurban Jogezai said the accident occurred due to a methane gas explosion. He stated that 42 workers were inside the mine at the time of the incident and confirmed that all the trapped miners were residents of Shangla district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to police, a separate coal mine accident in Balochistan's Harnai district on Thursday also claimed the life of one worker.
Reports indicate that coal mine accidents are frequent in Balochistan and Sindh provinces due to inadequate safety measures and poor working conditions. Earlier, four workers were killed after a wall collapsed inside a coal mine near Meting railway station in Thatta district of Sindh.
The incident occurred at Ibrahim Coal Mines in the Kohistani belt of Thatta.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
