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Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of seven more miners from a coal mine in Sangeji, Quetta, bringing the total number of fatalities to 10 following a deadly explosion at the site. Efforts are ongoing to locate one remaining missing miner.
On Friday, four bodies were retrieved, and an additional six were recovered over the weekend. The miners had been trapped at a depth of 4,200 feet when the explosion caused a massive collapse at the mine. The explosion destroyed the mine’s only power line, further complicating the rescue efforts. Surviving miners reported that the blast was so powerful it caused a significant portion of the mine to collapse.
The Chief Inspector of Mines has confirmed the recovery of 10 bodies, while rescue operations continue. Authorities are taking legal action against the mine owner, with the Mines Department accusing the Coal Mines Committee of failing to implement essential safety measures. A letter has been sent to the Deputy Commissioner requesting a case be filed.
Mir Shoyab Noshiwani, the Mineral Resources Minister, vowed to hold those responsible for the safety lapses accountable in court, stressing that strict actions will be taken against the mine’s management.
The miners who perished in this disaster were from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the explosion highlights the ongoing hazards in Balochistan’s coal mines, where safety protocols are frequently ignored. Last year, 82 miners were killed in 46 similar accidents, and a gas explosion in Sangeji in 2023 claimed at least 11 lives.
A recent report from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also revealed that safety standards in coal mines are rarely enforced, putting workers in constant danger.
