Four coal miners were killed and five others were injured on Sunday when a methane gas explosion triggered a collapse at a coal mine in Shahrag, a mountainous town in Balochistan’s Harnai district, according to a government official.
The mine is located roughly 168 kilometers (104 miles) from Quetta, the provincial capital. Shahrag is home to hundreds of coal mines and has a long history of extraction activity in the region.
Workers Trapped 800 Feet Underground
Muhammad Atif, chief mine inspector at the provincial mining department, said six workers were inside the mine, which is owned by the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC), when it caved in at a depth of about 800 feet.
“Four mine workers were killed and five were injured after the mine caved in due to a methane gas blast,” Atif told media.
He said the bodies and the injured miners were recovered following a rescue operation that lasted for hours.
Critically Injured Referred to Quetta
Two miners who suffered severe burn injuries were referred to Quetta for better treatment, Atif said.
Dr Hadi Kakar, medical superintendent at Quetta’s Civil Hospital, said four patients from the Shahrag coal mine blast arrived at the hospital’s trauma center.
He said two patients reached the hospital in critical condition, with 80 and 90 percent severe burn injuries, and were being treated under careful supervision.
“Two other patients with minor injuries were discharged from the hospital after being given initial treatment,” Kakar added.
Victims Hailed From Swat District
The official said the deceased miners belonged to the northwestern Swat district, and that their bodies were shifted to their native villages for burial.
Inquiry Demanded Into Cause of Collapse
Atif said the provincial mining department has submitted a written request for an inquiry into the mine collapse to determine its causes.
Methane gas accumulation is a recurring hazard in the region’s coal mines, where safety standards and ventilation systems are often inadequate. Balochistan’s mining sector has recorded numerous fatal accidents in recent years, prompting repeated calls for stricter enforcement of workplace safety regulations.
