Three coal miners died on Tuesday after a poisonous gas leak filled an underground mine in Machh tehsil of Bolan district, Balochistan.
Rescue officials said the workers were inside the Digari area mine when toxic gas suddenly spread, causing them to suffocate. They fell unconscious and died on the spot.
The victims were identified as residents of Hazara Town and Alamdar Road in Quetta. Local administration, rescue teams and mining officials reached the site soon after the incident. Chief Inspector of Mines and Minerals Abdul Ghani also reviewed the initial cause of the accident.
Frequent fatal accidents in Balochistan’s coal mines have long highlighted the absence of safety standards. Despite repeated tragedies, little progress has been made to improve conditions, leaving thousands of miners at constant risk.
Official data shows that coal-rich districts including Quetta, Bolan, Harnai, Loralai and Duki hold more than 256 million tonnes of reserves. However, safety enforcement remains weak. The Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation estimates that more than 100,000 workers are employed in coal mining across the province, with dozens killed or injured every year in preventable incidents such as mine collapses and gas leaks.