QUETTA (MNN); Four miners were killed and five others injured after a gas explosion occurred inside a coal mine in Balochistan’s Harnai district on Sunday, according to state-run Radio Pakistan.
The Pakistan Army carried out a rescue operation at the mine after several workers became trapped following the explosion.
Five miners who were trapped underground were successfully brought out alive during the operation, Radio Pakistan reported.
Four miners, however, lost their lives in the incident, while five others sustained injuries. The injured workers were transported to Quetta for further medical treatment.
Coal mine accidents are frequent in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where gas accumulation is among the major causes of deadly incidents.
Labour union representatives have repeatedly raised concerns over inadequate safety equipment and hazardous working conditions, saying poor safety standards contribute to the high number of accidents in the mining sector.
Recent Coal Mine Tragedies
The latest incident comes weeks after three workers were killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in the Degari area of Mastung district.
In late July, at least 32 coal miners were killed in a powerful methane gas explosion at a mine near Quetta. Most of the victims were reportedly from Shangla.
The heirs of those killed later refused to accept compensation cheques of Rs400,000, demanding greater attention to the safety and welfare of mine workers.
Following the Quetta tragedy, the National Labour Federation (NLF) Balochistan called for urgent reforms in mine safety regulations and enforcement.
NLF Balochistan General Secretary Umar Hayat said the province has around 196 mining companies operating nearly 3,000 coal mines, while only 17 mine inspectors are tasked with monitoring safety standards.
He described the number of inspectors as grossly inadequate for the scale of the mining industry and called for stronger monitoring and enforcement of safety regulations.
