4 bodies pulled from Balochistan mine
Rescuers have been working round-the-clock, but there is little hope of rescuing the colliers trapped in the mine. PHOTO: PPI
A coal mine collapse in Sanjdi, located around 40 kilometers from Quetta, has claimed at least four lives, with eight miners still trapped underground.
The incident occurred due to a buildup of gas, which caused an explosion and the mine to cave in. Rescue operations, ongoing for more than 24 hours, remain challenging due to the presence of toxic gas and debris.
Balochistan's Minister for Mines and Finance, Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, confirmed the recovery of four bodies and assured that rescue teams are making every effort to save the remaining miners. He expressed deep sorrow over the incident and emphasised that no mine owner will be allowed to operate outside the bounds of law and safety regulations.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has deployed a technical team to assist with the rescue, and additional rescue units have been dispatched on the instructions of the provincial government.
The government has pledged strict action against any violations of mining regulations, Shahid Rind, the spokesman for the provincial government said.
Nosherwani, the mines minister, however, reiterated the need for modern safety measures in mining operations and assured that those found responsible for negligence would face severe consequences.
The tragedy has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of safety protocols across Balochistan's mining sector. Rescue efforts continue as authorities strive to bring the trapped miners to safety.
Family members of the victims have been suffering through numbing agony for more than 24 hours outside the affected mine. "We want an investigation into this incident", Pir Muhammad Kakar, one of the leaders of the mines workers association told The Express Tribune via telephone.
He demanded strict action against the owner of the coal mine and the responsible officials at the mines department.
On Thursday, all twelve coal miners were feared dead after a gas explosion at the mentioned coal mine. A local rescue team began the search for the workers in the private mine, before being joined by two teams from Quetta.
"An accumulation of methane gas caused the blast," said Abdullah Shawani, the head of the province's mining department.
"Twelve workers were inside a private mine when the whole mine caved in after an explosion," added Abdul Ghani Baloch, a senior official in the department.
He said that the rescue teams were slowed down by being unable to find the entrance to the mine.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind, confirming the incident, highlighted the persistent dangers miners face, stating, "Hazardous working conditions in coal mines continue to claim precious human lives daily." He further emphasised the challenges rescuers face due to the unstable structure of the collapsed mine.
Despite the difficulties, Rind assured the public that "all-out efforts are being made to rescue the trapped miners." However, he admitted that the risk for rescue workers remains significant, and so far, there are no updates on the fate of the 12 miners.
The spokesperson called for immediate attention to safety measures in coal mining, stating, "It is high time to prioritise safety to prevent such tragedies in the future." (With input from AFP)