At least two miners lost their lives in a tragic incident in the Bolan district of Balochistan on Monday.
According to reports, the two employees of a coal mine site died of suffocation in the Gashtri area of Mach, Bolan. Their bodies were retrieved seven hours later by locals. Witnesses told the TBP correspondent that the district administration or rescue services did not reach the site for several hours after the incident.
The deceased were taken to Mach Hospital. MS Mach, Dr. Sajjad, identified the slain miners as Hameed-ur-Rehman and Mohammad Aftab, residents of the Sangla district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
It is worth mentioning that Balochistan’s coal miners, essential for 3.8 million tons of yearly production, often lack protective gear, healthcare access, and rigorous safety measures.
According to the Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF), at least 200 people have died in coal mine incidents in Balochistan this year, while the Balochistan chief inspector for mines put the figure at 46 killed in 21 mining incidents.
More than 69 coal miners lost their lives, and 29 were injured in 51 coal mine accidents in Balochistan in 2023, according to officials at the Department of Minerals. The figures are much higher than those confirmed to the media by authorities.
The families and miners blame the government for not providing adequate protection and safety measures to safeguard the lives of thousands of miners working in different areas of Balochistan.