11 trapped after coalmine collapses near Quetta

One miner rescued after 15-hour-long operation; search for others under way

QUETTA: The rescue operation to reach 11 miners trapped thousands of feet deep underground in a coalmine in Degari area near Quetta continued on Monday but with little progress.

The miners got trapped almost 3,500 feet inside after the mine collapse due to the accumulation of poisonous gas on Sunday. Shafqat Fayyaz, Bolachistan Mines Minister said that one mine worker was brought to safety during a rescue operation but efforts were under way to recover the remaining 11 miners, who have been trapped for over 20 hours.

The presence of poisonous gas inside the mine has been making the access to the miners difficult. It was stated that six relief workers participating in the rescue operation also fell unconscious due to toxic gas in the mine and had to be evacuated.

Six killed, 13 others trapped in Balochistan coalmine explosion

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan has directed the authorities concerned to deploy technical teams and ensure the safe recovery of the workers. “The chief minister has directed the authorities to take every possible measure in the rescue operation,” government spokesperson Liaquat Shahawani said.

According to the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation, about 100 to 200 labourers die on average in coal mine accidents across the country every year. The Balochistan Mines Association held a protest outside the Quetta Press Club against the rise of coalmine incidents.

According to leaders of the union, the government has failed to ensure safety of mine workers as owners and contractors are turning these mines into death holes. Poor working conditions inside the coalmines in Balochistan has been claimed lives of several minders in Harnai, Dukki, Mach and Sowrange areas.