QUETTA: At least four miners were killed and three injured on Friday night after a gas explosion in a coal mine in Balochistan’s Sara Gurgai area, situated on the outskirts of Quetta.
According to Abdul Ghani, chief inspector of Balochistan’s mines and minerals department, a massive explosion in the mine had left seven miners trapped, of which four died and three were shifted to the trauma centre of Civil Hospital, Quetta.
He said the rescue operation was launched last night and the process of identifying the deceased was underway. Meanwhile, he added, the coal mine where the explosion occurred had been sealed.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Governor Syed Zahoor Ahmed Agha expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the incident.
They offered their condolences to the bereaved families and directed concerned quarters to provide best medical facilities to the injured.
According to Ghani, the latest incident was the second mining accident reported in the province this year and a total of eight miners had died in the two incidents.
Last year, at least four coal miners died while working at the Chamalang coal mine in Balochistan’s Dukki district due to the accumulation of poisonous gas underground.
The coal mine was located in the Anghoor Sheila area of Chamalang. The bodies of the colliers remained trapped inside until the locals were able to extract them.
