QUETTA: In yet another mining disaster in Balochistan, two miners died in a coal mine when it collapsed while six other workers who became trapped were rescued in the Khost area of Harnai district on Sunday.
The tragedy struck when digging was still underway to retrieve the remaining one body from the Sanjdi mine on the outskirts of Quetta after the recovery of 11 more bodies.
In all, 12 coal miners had become trapped some 4,000 feet deep inside the Sanjdi mine after a powerful methane gas explosion on Jan 9. Ten of the 11 victims originally belonged to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shangla district and one hailed from Swat.
In the fresh incident, cracks developed in a coal mine located in the Khost coal field of Harnai district and a portion of the mine caved in when eight workers were still inside.
All the miners became trapped though six of them were rescued shortly afterwards.
However, two coal miners, later identified as Zahid and Islahat, who were working deep inside the mine, could not be rescued. After continuous efforts for 12 hours, however, their bodies were retrieved.
The mines and minerals department has closed the mine in Khost and ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Pakistan Central Mines
Labour Federation leaders condemned the killing of coal miners.
“We want ratification of Safety Slandered and ILO-C 176” as well as awareness raising programmes for their safety, they said.
