Four miners killed in methane explosion at Pakistani mine — Dawn
Four miners were killed and another four injured in a methane explosion at a coal mine in the Shahrag area of Harnai district in Pakistan's Balochistan province. The incident occurred on September 13 at PMDC Coal Mine 151.
As Dawn reports, the powerful explosion occurred after methane accumulated. A fire broke out in the mine after the blast, and eight workers were trapped deep inside.
Rescue operation
Muhammad Atif Khan, the chief inspector of mines in Balochistan, said that rescue services and the local administration were involved in the operation after receiving a report of the accident. According to him, the bodies of four miners were recovered from the mine, while four injured people were taken to hospital.
State-run Radio Pakistan reported that military personnel also took part in the rescue operation. At the same time, the radio station said that five people had been rescued alive, while the chief inspector of mines reported four injured people who were evacuated from the accident site.
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After the necessary procedures, the bodies of those killed were sent to their home region of Swat. The injured received initial medical care and were then referred to Quetta for further treatment.
Mine accidents in Balochistan
Accidents at Pakistan's coal mines are often linked to gas accumulation. Representatives of miners' unions cite a lack of safety equipment and inadequate working conditions among the causes of frequent incidents.
Last month, three workers were killed in a gas explosion at a mine in the Degari area of Mastung district in Balochistan. In late July, a methane explosion at a mine in Quetta claimed the lives of at least 32 miners. After that, the Balochistan National Labour Federation called for reforms to the mine safety system.
The federation's secretary-general, Umar Hayat, noted that 196 mining companies operate in the province, running nearly 3,000 coal mines, while only 17 inspectors monitor compliance with safety standards.
