A gas explosion at a coal mine in Balochistan has left twelve miners feared dead. The blast, caused by an accumulation of methane gas, occurred in a private mine located in the Singidi area. Rescue operations were immediately launched by local teams, later joined by two additional teams from Quetta. However, the efforts have been hindered by the collapse of the mine, which has made locating the entrance difficult.
According to Abdullah Shawani, the head of Balochistan’s mining department, the explosion caused the entire mine to cave in, trapping the workers inside. Senior official Abdul Ghani Baloch confirmed that twelve workers were present when the disaster occurred, but the search for their bodies remains challenging due to the unstable structure of the collapsed mine.
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Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind expressed concern about the ongoing risks faced by coal miners in the region, stressing the urgent need for improved safety measures. He noted that hazardous working conditions continue to claim lives on a daily basis, with this explosion marking a tragic reminder of the dangers miners face. Despite these challenges, rescue teams continue to search for survivors, though there are no updates yet on the fate of the trapped miners.
The tragedy has raised further questions about the safety standards in Pakistan’s coal mining industry, as deadly incidents are all too common. In fact, a similar gas explosion at the same mine last June claimed the lives of twelve miners, highlighting the long-standing risks associated with such dangerous work.
