Unions in Balochistan are pointing to hazardous working conditions as a major cause of accidents in the resource-rich province. A recent gas explosion at a coalpit in the mining region of Khost has resulted in the deaths of at least 12 miners. The explosion occurred late on Tuesday, trapping workers about 240 meters underground in a subsequent cave-in.
Rescuers worked tirelessly overnight to recover the bodies of the miners by Wednesday. Eight individuals attempting to rescue their colleagues were also trapped for several hours before being brought to safety, some unconscious, by a government rescue team. Balochistan’s director-general of mining confirmed on Wednesday that the incident was caused by methane gas, a common hazard in the coal-rich regions of western Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sadness over the tragic loss of lives in the accident. Deadly incidents in mines are unfortunately not uncommon in Pakistan, with hazardous working conditions and poor safety standards being major contributing factors. The Balochistan Coal Mines Workers Federation emphasized that safety measures in coal mines are rarely enforced in the province, leading to tragic accidents like this one.