Quetta: Four miners were killed and five others injured after a gas explosion at a coal mine in Shahrag area of Balochistan’s Harnai district, officials said.
The incident occurred on Sunday at PMDC Coal Mine 151 in Shahrag after methane gas accumulated inside the mine, according to rescue sources. Eight miners were initially reported to have been trapped deep inside the mine after fire broke out following the explosion.
Balochistan Chief Inspector of Mines Muhammad Atif Khan said rescue teams and the local administration launched an operation after receiving information about the incident.
Four miners were recovered dead, while the injured miners were rescued and shifted to hospital for treatment.
The Pakistan Army also took part in the rescue operation. According to state-run Radio Pakistan, army personnel rescued five miners alive from the mine. However, a separate account from local rescue sources said four injured miners were rescued.
The injured miners were provided initial medical treatment before being referred to Quetta for further treatment. The bodies were sent to the victims’ native area in Swat after completion of the necessary formalities.
Local residents of Harnai appreciated the Pakistan Army’s response and its role in the rescue operation.
Gas-related incidents are common in Pakistan’s coal mines. Labour union officials have cited inadequate safety equipment and poor working conditions among the causes of frequent mining accidents.
Last month, three workers were killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in the Degari area of Balochistan’s Mastung district.
In late July, at least 32 coal miners, most of them from Shangla, were killed in a methane gas explosion at a coal mine near Quetta. The victims’ heirs later refused to receive compensation cheques worth Rs400,000.
Following the incident, the National Labour Federation (NLF) Balochistan called for reforms in mine safety.
NLF Balochistan General Secretary Umar Hayat said the province had 196 mining companies operating nearly 3,000 coal mines, while only 17 mine inspectors were responsible for monitoring safety standards. He described the number of inspectors as inadequate.
