Twelve miners remain trapped inside a collapsed coal mine in the Sanjadi area of Balochistan, approximately 40 kilometers from Quetta, as rescue efforts continue.
The mine collapsed last night following a gas explosion, causing debris to trap the miners at a depth of 4,200 feet.
Teams from the Levies, the local administration, and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) are engaged in the rescue operation. Heavy machinery is being used to remove debris, which has accumulated to a depth of 20 to 30 feet, according to the PDMA deputy director rescue.
However, toxic gas inside the mine and the accumulated debris have hampered progress, with two PDMA officials fainting during the operation. Efforts are ongoing to save the miners, despite significant obstacles.
The Balochistan government has taken notice and ordered an investigation into the incident, with Minister for Minerals and Finance Mir Shoaib Nosherwani directing Mines Chief Inspector Abdul Ghani Baloch to dispatch two additional rescue teams to the site.
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The government has also launched an investigation into the incident, with a particular focus on possible violations of mining safety procedures.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed the gas build-up inside the mine led to the explosion, which caused the collapse. He added that rescue teams were dispatched immediately after the incident and are making every effort to extract the trapped miners.
Minister Nosherwani emphasized the need for accountability, stressing the importance of strict compliance with mining safety standards to prevent such tragedies in the future.
