• Eight workers rescued after 15-hour overnight operation
• PM Shehbaz expresses profound sorrow and grief over loss of precious

QUETTA: A powerful methane gas explosion at Khost coal mines in the Harnai district claimed the lives of 12 miners, while eight others miraculously survived.

The tragedy unfolded some 120 kilometres east of Quetta, in the Zardalo area, on Tuesday night as miners worked deep within a private coal mine.

The explosion, which occurred roughly 1,000 feet below the surface, not only caused a massive fire but also led to the collapse of a significant portion of the mine, trapping the miners inside.

“Our operation has been concluded with the recovery of all 12 dead bodies during the 15-hour overnight rescue operation,” Abdul Ghani Baloch, chief inspector of mines for Balochistan, told Dawn, adding that eight miners were successfully rescued from the calamity-stricken site.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement expressing “profound sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives”.

“Such incidents are extremely painful and saddening. We stand by the victim families in this hour of grief. The government will provide maximum possible relief to the injured and the affected families,” he said.

Officials said 10 miners were working in the coal mine when the explosion occurred. Another 10 miners rushed to rescue their colleagues but got trapped themselves.

“The miners who attempted a rescue shortly after the explosion also became trapped and were among those later found unconscious or deceased,” Levies officials said.

The incident triggered an immediate response, with rescue teams from Quetta and the Sharag coal mines rushing to the scene.

Despite initial challenges, the rescuers retrieved two bodies in the early hours. The operation concluded at around 10am the following day (Wednesday), resulting in the recovery of 12 bodies. Eight miners were found alive, albeit in dire conditions due to methane exposure.

The survivors, after receiving necessary medical attention at the district hospital in Harnai, were reported to be in stable condition and later discharged.

The bodies of the deceased, hailing from the districts of Pishin and Quetta, were handed over to their families after completion of medical and legal formalities.

They were identified as Abdul Saboor, Rafiullah, Abdul Razzaq, Abdul Wahab, Izzatullah, Abdul Ghafoor, Hameed Ullah, Rafiullah, Muhammad Ibrahim, Noman Adil, Naimatullah, and Abdul Ghafoor.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said in a statement on Wednesday it was deeply alarmed by the deaths of 12 coal miners in Harnai. It demanded the government investigate the causes of the accident and take immediate steps to create a safer working environment for coal miners everywhere, including the urgent ratification of ILO Convention 176 to ensure workplace safety.

Deadly incidents are not uncommon in the country’s mines, which are known for hazardous working conditions and poor safety standards.

“This incident is neither the first nor will it be the last in Balochistan,” Lala Sultan, head of the Balochistan Coal Mines Workers Federation, told AFP. “Safety measures at coal mines are scarcely implemented. While other provinces have some safety protocols in place, in Balochistan safety is utterly neglected.”

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2024