At least 32 miners have been killed in a powerful explosion at a coal mine in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, with at least 10 more workers trapped inside the mine. The disaster occurred on Thursday on the outskirts of Quetta, the provincial capital.
Ghani Baloch, a government mine inspector, said an initial investigation suggested the explosion was caused by a buildup of toxic methane gas inside the mine. Local authorities fear there is very little chance of finding the missing workers alive.
Hours after the accident, rescue team members first recovered seven bodies, and 25 more were later pulled out during the search.
The provincial disaster management authority said the operation to rescue workers trapped deep in the mine was still under way.
Ghani Baloch said the rescue operation would continue until all trapped workers were accounted for. But with oxygen levels inside the mine dropping quickly after the methane explosion, the chance of finding anyone alive was slim, and rescuers had to work with great caution, he said.
Balochistan’s mines and minerals minister, Shoaib Nasherwani, promised the provincial government’s full support for the rescue effort. Expressing deep sympathy to the victims’ families, he announced compensation of 500,000 Pakistani rupees (about US$1,800) for the family of each miner killed. He also ordered the formation of an investigation committee to find the exact cause of the accident and a review of the mine’s safety arrangements.
The Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation alleged that the accident was caused by gross negligence of safety. It demanded that those responsible be brought to justice immediately, that mine safety rules be strictly enforced, and that tough action be taken against companies that violate safety laws.
Such deadly accidents occur frequently in Pakistan’s coal-mining industry. Many mines in Balochistan in particular lack adequate ventilation, gas-monitoring equipment and basic safety infrastructure. Despite extremely hazardous conditions and low wages, widespread unemployment and poverty force thousands of people in the province to depend on dangerous coal-mining work for a living.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report