Last two bodies recovered from Quetta coal mine after 45-hour operation

A total of 36 miners were inside the mine at the time of the accident, with no survivors

QUETTA:

Rescue teams on Saturday recovered the bodies of the last two miners trapped inside a coal mine in the Sorange area on the outskirts of Quetta due to a methane gas explosion, bringing a nearly 45-hour search and rescue operation to an end.

The miners were among 36 workers trapped after an explosion caused by the accumulation of methane gas triggered the collapse of part of the mine on Thursday. The explosion occurred after methane gas accumulated inside the mine. The blast caused a large section of the mine to collapse, trapping dozens of miners under the debris.

According to mine authorities, the bodies of the final two miners were shifted to the hospital after being recovered, completing the rescue operation.

Officials said the bodies of the other 34 miners had already been sent to their native areas after legal formalities were completed, while the remaining two bodies would also be dispatched to their hometowns after the necessary procedures.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti took notice of the incident and sought an immediate report from the Mines and Minerals Department.

Expressing grief over the tragedy, the chief minister directed the department to conduct a comprehensive, transparent and impartial inquiry into the causes of the accident, warning that strict legal action would be taken if negligence or violations of safety regulations were found.

Chief Minister's Special Assistant for Information and Political Affairs Shahid Rind said the provincial government had announced Rs500,000 in financial assistance for the family of each miner killed in the accident.

Read: Death toll rises to 34 in Quetta mine blast as rescue operation continues

Chief Inspector of Mines Muhammad Atif said on Thursday, "The miners were working at a depth of approximately 2,500 to 3,000 feet when the explosion occurred. The blast also damaged an alternative passage used to supply air and oxygen to the mine, creating significant difficulties for the rescue team".

In March, two Afghan miners suffocated after toxic methane gas accumulated inside a coal mine in the Chamalang area of Duki district. Police said the workers lost consciousness within moments after the mine filled with poisonous gas, while safety experts blamed the absence of proper ventilation and gas detection systems.

A month later, in April, three miners died after a sudden release of methane and other toxic gases inside a private coal lease in the Degari area near Quetta. The incident renewed criticism over hazardous working conditions and inadequate safety measures in the province's mining sector.

In June, two miners were killed when a coal mine caved in during excavation work in Harnai district's Khost area. Labour unions described the collapse as "institutional negligence" and accused authorities of failing to enforce even basic workplace safety standards, alleging miners continued to work without proper protective equipment or emergency response mechanisms.