The death toll from a methane gas explosion at a coal mine in the Sor Range area on the outskirts of Quetta rose to 34, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan said on Friday, as rescue teams continue efforts to reach the remaining miners trapped underground.
The bodies of 34 miners have been recovered so far following the explosion, which occurred on Thursday 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.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti took immediate notice of the incident and sought a detailed report from the Mines and Minerals Department.
According to officials, 41 miners were inside the mine at the time of the accident. Rescue teams from the Mines Department, rescue services and the district administration reached the site shortly after the incident and launched rescue operations. Efforts are continuing to locate and recover the remaining miners.
Chief Inspector of Mines Muhammad Atif said, “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”.
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Rescue personnel are using heavy machinery and available resources in an effort to reach the trapped miners. The recovered bodies are being shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta for legal formalities before being sent to their native areas.
Authorities said the rescue operation would continue without interruption until all the miners inside the mine had been reached.
Separately, CM Bugti directed the Mines and Minerals Department to submit an immediate report on the incident.
He also ordered a transparent and impartial inquiry into the accident to determine its causes and identify those responsible, saying strict legal action would be taken if negligence or lapses were established.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the deaths of workers in the coal mine accident in the Sor Range area.
“The accident caused by the accumulation of gas in the coal mine at Soranj is deeply tragic,” the prime minister said.
He directed the PDMA and other relevant departments to continue rescue operations in an effective and prompt manner and instructed the authorities to ensure special arrangements for the timely rescue and medical treatment of all those injured.
The premier said that the rescue operation should continue until all affected workers had been rescued and relief efforts completed and also expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died and prayed for the elevation of the departed souls.
PM Shehbaz directed that permanent safety measures should be implemented to protect the lives of workers employed in coal mines. “Hard-working labourers are a valuable asset to our country,” he said.Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express TribuneSardar Hameed KhanRead More