A catastrophic methane gas explosion ripped through a coal mine in Quetta’s Sorange area on Thursday, killing at least 34 miners and leaving several others trapped underground. The blast occurred while 42 workers were on shift, triggering a frantic rescue operation amid extremely hazardous conditions.
Rescue Teams Race Against Time
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), rescue teams have so far retrieved 34 bodies from the collapsed mine. The fate of the remaining eight miners remains unknown as operations continue. Officials confirmed that all the trapped workers hail from the Shangla area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The mine owner told local media that the explosion was caused by a buildup of methane gas, a persistent and deadly threat in coal mining operations.
Government Announces Compensation and Inquiry
Balochistan Minister for Mines and Minerals, Shoaib Noshirwani, stated that rescue teams are utilizing all available resources despite the extremely difficult conditions. He expressed solidarity with the grieving families and announced compensation packages: Rs500,000 for the families of each deceased worker and Rs300,000 for each injured miner.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has ordered an immediate and transparent inquiry into the incident. He directed the Mines and Minerals Department to submit an urgent report to determine the causes and identify any responsible parties.
“If negligence is proven at any level, legal action will be taken against those responsible,” the Chief Minister said, while also instructing the department to enforce strict safety regulations across all coal mines in the province.
