KALAT: At least six miners died Thursday of suffocation caused by toxic gas in a Kalat coalmine.
According to reports, the labourers were working in a coal mine located in Siah Camp, Sorab when an explosion took place and triggered the release of poisonous gas which led to the suffocation of the six miners. The incident took place on the night between Wednesday and Thursday.
The Levies men transported the bodies to Civil Hospital, Sorab.
The deceased belong to Quetta, Pishin and Sorab. The bodies will be handed to the bereaved families after identification and necessary medico-legal proceedings.
The mining department of Balochistan government claimed that the mine was being operated illegally.
“No license was obtained from the government to run the mine; hence, it was illegal,” Mines Chief Inspector Iftikhar Muhammad said.
Levies sources said the coal was recently discovered in the area.
At least 30,000 miners are associated with the coal mine industry in five districts of the province. However, they face different problems owing to insufficient facilities.