Three colliers perish in Darra mine accident

In yet another heartwrenching tragedy, a coal mine accident in Darra Adam Khel has claimed the lives of three miners. All three of these unfortunate individuals were residents of Shangla district in KhyberPakhtunkhwa (K-P).

The incident occurred as a result of exposure to poisonous gases within a coal mine located in the Kale Khel area. This marks the second such incident within a week in which a coal miner from Shangla lost their life.

Just days prior, a miner manager from Shangla was fatally shot in Quetta, Balochistan, when unidentified assailants on motorcycles opened fire on him.

A coal miner, speaking to The Express Tribune, shared the details, stating, “These three unfortunate miners were working deep in the mine without personal safety gear and lost consciousness due to poisonous gases, resulting in their tragic loss of life.”

The victims have been identified as Umar Wahid, a resident of Alpuri, Shangla, Imdadullah, also a resident of Alpuri, and Fazal Wahid, hailing from Niri Darra. It is worth noting that Shangla is one of the most impoverished mountainous districts in K-P, where 65 percent of the population relies on coal mining due to limited educational and job opportunities.

While a previous government effort to register these coal miners failed, the provincial government responded to local demands by increasing death compensation.

Local residents of Shangla are now urging the provincial government to take immediate action to address the frequent and deadly incidents occurring in these illegal coal mines in Darra Adam Khel, where measures to safeguard the lives of mining workers have been sorely lacking.

They are also calling for the provision of personal safety gear to all miners and the implementation of legislation to ensure their protection.