QUETTA: Tragedy struck in the Sanjdi area, about 50 km from Quetta, as at least 11 individuals died from methane gas inhalation inside a coal mine on Monday. The victims included nine coal miners, a coal company manager, and a contractor.
The incident occurred approximately 1,500 feet deep inside the mine when methane gas erupted and rapidly spread, rendering all the workers unconscious. Abdul Ghani Shahwani, Chief Inspector of Mines in Balochistan, reported that the workers, along with a contractor and manager, entered the mine at around 5 PM. After an hour and a half, communication from inside the mine ceased.
Rescue teams from the Mines Department promptly responded, taking necessary safety measures and ventilating the gas. Unfortunately, by the time rescuers reached the affected area, all eleven individuals had perished. The bodies were transported to a nearby health facility, where doctors confirmed their deaths.
The mine, operated by United Coal mining company, has been sealed, and an inquiry into the incident has been ordered. All the miners who lost their lives were reported to be from Swat.
In a separate incident, two miners were shot dead, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by workers in the region’s mining industry.
Story by Shahid Saleem
