QUETTA: The death toll from the methane gas explosion in the Soranj coal mine near Quetta has risen to 34 after rescue teams recovered eight more bodies on Friday, officials said.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 42 miners were trapped inside the mine following the explosion. The search for the remaining trapped workers is still underway.
The deadly blast occurred on Thursday in the Soranj, also spelled as Sorange, coalfield area, located about 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
Provincial Mines Minister Mir Shoaib Noshirwani said a rescue operation was launched immediately after the collapse was reported. Rescue efforts are being carried out at a depth of around 4,000 feet (1,219 metres) with the assistance of PDMA, mining engineers and specialized rescue staff.
“The rescue operation was launched immediately after the coal mine collapse incident in Sorange,” the minister said.
According to initial reports, two mines close to each other were damaged in a powerful methane gas explosion. The mine owner said that 42 workers were present inside at the time of the blast and confirmed that the explosion was caused by accumulation of methane gas.
Labor leaders said a large part of the mine has collapsed due to the severity of the explosion, making the rescue operation extremely difficult. “We are hopeful to find some miners alive, but chances are low,” Chief Inspector of Mines Muhammad Atif told media.
Officials said most of the deceased miners belonged to Swat and Shangla districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who had come to Balochistan for work. The bodies are being shifted to Quetta and will later be handed over to their families.
Balochistan Chief Minister has sought a detailed report on the accident and said that if negligence is proven, strict action will be taken against those responsible.
It may be added here that despite the risks and low wages, thousands of miners from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa depend on the coal industry for their livelihoods in Balochistan, which is Pakistan’s largest but least developed province.
