10 Victims of Balochistan Mine Collapse Identified as Shangla Residents: CM K-P
10 Victims of Balochistan Mine Collapse Identified as Shangla Residents: CM K-P
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur stated on Saturday that among the 12 miners who perished in the collapse of a coal mine in the Sanjidi region of Balochistan, 10 were residents of his province. The incident took place on Thursday after a methane gas explosion triggered the mine’s collapse, trapping 12 miners inside. Rescue crews from the Balochistan Department of Minerals and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) managed to recover four bodies on Friday after several hours of effort. In a statement issued on Saturday, Chief Minister Gandapur extended his condolences, remarking that 10 of the deceased miners hailed from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shangla district. “We share in the sorrow of the grieving families,” he stated.
Balochistan’s Chief Mines Inspector, Abdul Ghani, reported on Friday that the workers were at a depth of 4,000 feet extracting coal when the explosion occurred, causing the entire mine to cave in. He also noted that the Department
of Minerals would conduct a comprehensive investigation to assess the safety precautions implemented by the mine owners. The mines in Balochistan, managed by private companies under lease agreements with the government, are infamous for their perilous working conditions and inadequate safety protocols, leading to frequent fatal incidents. As per the Balochistan Department of Minerals, 46 mining accidents were reported last year, resulting in 82 miner fatalities.
Balochistan boasts substantial coal reserves, particularly in regions like Mach, Hernai, and Chamalang. However, the prevalence of outdated mining techniques has led to recurrent accidents. In March of last year, a gas explosion in a coal mine situated in the Khost area of Hernai resulted in the deaths of 12 workers. In 2021, there were three significant accidents in Marwar, Hernai, and other districts of Balochistan, culminating in the loss of 22 lives. Similarly, in 2020, over 100 miners lost their lives due to such mishaps, with 52 fatalities reported from Duki district alone.
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