Death toll from sliding at marble mine in Mohmand rises to 19

PESHAWAR: An operation is underway on Tuesday to rescue people trapped after a rockslide in a marble mine in Safi tehsil in Mohmand district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to Director-General Rescue 1122, twelve bodies have been pulled from the debris, while the death toll has risen to 19 after two of the injured died. He said that the authority was closely coordinating with the district administration and relevant departments.

District Police Officer Mohmand district Tariq Habib told a news agency that around 40 to 50 people were at the quarry during the time of collapse on Monday evening. He said a large number of people usually work in these marble mines but luckily a majority had finished work and returned home.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed grief over the lives lost in the incident. He also called upon the provincial government to rescue those trapped underneath the rubble and provide the injured with medical aid.

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said that working conditions for labourers are extremely dismal. He said the provincial government should ensure the strict implementation of labour laws and stand with the families of those killed in the incident.

A large part of the Ziarat marble mountain in Safi tehsil of Mohmand district fell onto several nearby mines on Money. Eleven bodies and five injured were pulled out that day from under the rubble and shifted to Ghalanai Hospital.

Rescue 1122 had earlier said its team was carrying out a search operation to find the missing worker and had dispatched additional personnel from Peshawar and Charsadda.