Occupational hazard: Six miners killed in explosion

Gas accumulated in coalmine in Doli, Orakzai Agency.

KALAYA/ SHANGLA: As many as six coalminers were killed and over 15 were injured on Thursday when a powerful explosion occurred in a coalmine in Doli, Orakzai Agency due to gas accumulation.

According to officials of Kalaya political administration, mine workers reached the site in the morning and were busy working when the explosion took place.

Other miners rushed to pull the injured and dead men out of the debris. Around six dead and 15 injured workers were shifted to a nearby hospital. Three of the wounded were said to be in critical condition.

Political administration officials said the powerful explosion was heard all over Doli area. Bodies of the deceased were later sent to their native villages.

Alarming trend

“The six people who were killed and most of the injured men belonged to Baand Khwargai and Porran area of Shangla,” said coalmine contractor Noor Hassan. He added the labourers were employed by Sherazi Coal Company.

The deceased were identified as Ali Rehman, Rehmat Ali, Beshota, Arshad Ali, Nizamuddin and Gul Zameen.

Shangla Coalmine Workers Union office bearer Amanullah Khan said a majority of coalminers working in different parts of the country belong to the district. According to Khan, although mining is a tough job, workers make good money.

“Education facilities in Shangla are not satisfactory and most of the families send their children to work in coalmines. More than 300 labourers have died in various mining accidents in the last three years,” Khan said.

Shangla Action Committee Chairman Muhammad Naeem Khan demanded that the government provide compensation to the family of the deceased and those who were injured.

At least 18 miners from Shangla have died in mining accidents across the country this month.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2015.