QUETTA, July 31 (Alliance News): The death toll from the coal mine collapse in Balochistan’s Sorange area has risen to 34 after rescue teams recovered six more bodies from the site, while efforts continued on Friday to retrieve the remaining miners believed to be trapped underground, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
PDMA officials said search and rescue teams were continuing operations to reach the miners still trapped inside the collapsed mine.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti sought a detailed report on the incident and warned that strict action would be taken if negligence or misconduct was found.
He also directed the relevant authorities to ensure the strict implementation of safety regulations at coal mines across the province to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Expressing grief over the tragedy, JUI-N spokesperson Abdul Sattar Chishti said thousands of miners had lost their lives in similar accidents over the years and urged the government to take immediate and effective measures to improve mine safety standards.
According to mine owner Qurban Jogezai, the collapse was triggered by a methane gas explosion. He said 42 labourers were working inside the mine at the time of the incident and confirmed that all those trapped belonged to Shangla district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In a separate incident on the same day, another miner was killed in a coal mine accident in Balochistan’s Harnai district.
Police said the labourer was working inside the mine when a large boulder fell on him, causing fatal injuries. He died at the scene before rescuers could reach him.
Rescue personnel shifted the body to a nearby hospital to complete legal formalities.
Coal mine accidents remain frequent in Balochistan and Sindh due to inadequate safety measures, poor working conditions and weak enforcement of mining regulations.
Earlier this month, four labourers were killed and five others injured after a wall collapsed inside the Ibrahim Coal Mines near Meting Railway Station in Thatta district, Sindh.
The victims of the Thatta incident were identified as Ziaullah, Noor Mohammad and Irfanullah, all residents of Swat, and Saindad, a resident of Sanghar district.
