4 workers die, 10 others stranded as Quetta coal mine caves in

At least 4 miners died and 10 others were trapped after a gas explosion inside a coal mine in Quetta’s Sanjadi area on Sunday, a private media outlet reported.

According to the initial reports, there are attempts being made by the rescue services to recover the miners trapped in the coal mine. The expected depth of the mine is 4000 feet, which may further add into the difficulties faced by the rescue teams.

Balochistan’s Chief Inspector of Mines Iftikhar Ahmed confirmed the incident saying he was heading towards the site to monitor the rescue work.

Coal Miners Association official Bakht Nawab, however, said that the “chances of their there survival were bleak”.

The trapped miners belong to Shangla, Swat and Dir areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation (PCMLF), between 100 and 200 labourers die on average in coal mine accidents every year.

This is a developing story…