No precautions : Three killed in coal mine collapse
The miners were excavating 2,000 feet below the surface.
While most of the mines have been termed ‘dead’, owners insist on digging out more coal, risking the lives of miners. PHOTO: FILE
HANGU:
Three miners were killed when a coal mine tunnel collapsed in Doli area of Lower Orakzai.
An official of the Coalmine Rescue Centre said they were told early Thursday morning that three labourers identified as Fazal Habib, Watan Khan and Shakirullah were trapped inside a collapsed mine late Wednesday night and were suspected to be dead.
When the rescue team rushed to the site to recover the bodies, they were informed by coal mine contractor Awan Ali the miners were excavating 2,000 feet below the surface when the incident occurred.
“All coalminers working in the agency lack basic facilities and safety measures. We have pronounced the three dead, but haven’t recovered their bodies yet,” said the official, adding the miners would have died of suffocation within minutes.
While most of the mines have been termed ‘dead’ by the political administration, owners insist on digging out more coal, risking the lives of labourers.
On October 14 last year, a coal miner was killed and two others injured in an explosion that occurred a few kilometres from the site of Thursday’s accident.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2013.
Three miners were killed when a coal mine tunnel collapsed in Doli area of Lower Orakzai.
An official of the Coalmine Rescue Centre said they were told early Thursday morning that three labourers identified as Fazal Habib, Watan Khan and Shakirullah were trapped inside a collapsed mine late Wednesday night and were suspected to be dead.
When the rescue team rushed to the site to recover the bodies, they were informed by coal mine contractor Awan Ali the miners were excavating 2,000 feet below the surface when the incident occurred.
“All coalminers working in the agency lack basic facilities and safety measures. We have pronounced the three dead, but haven’t recovered their bodies yet,” said the official, adding the miners would have died of suffocation within minutes.
While most of the mines have been termed ‘dead’ by the political administration, owners insist on digging out more coal, risking the lives of labourers.
On October 14 last year, a coal miner was killed and two others injured in an explosion that occurred a few kilometres from the site of Thursday’s accident.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2013.