Two colliers killed, six trapped in Harnai mine blast

Rescue operation underway to recover trapped miners

QUETTA:

At least two coalminers were killed and six were trapped inside a local coal mine in Balochistan’s Harnai district on Monday due to an explosion that caused the mine to collapse.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the miners were digging coal deep inside the mine of a private coal company in Torghar area of the district when an explosion took place. Rescuers and laborers working at nearby coal mines rushed to the site and initiated a rescue operation soon after receiving information about the incident.

Rescue services personnel said the explosion occurred due to presence of methane gas which caused a landslide inside the mine. The bodies of the deceased colliers have been recovered while the rescue operation in the area is still underway to ensure recovery of the trapped miners. This is the second such incident that has taken place this month. Six coal mine workers died last week in the Marwar coalfields after being trapped for an entire day due to an explosion caused by methane gas.