QUETTA(National Times)- At least 15 coal miners were killed in a powerful methane gas explosion at a coal mine on Thursday, while more than two dozen others remained trapped inside the mine in the Sorange coalfield, located about 30 kilometres northeast of the provincial capital.
Officials said the blast occurred at a private coal mine in the afternoon when 24 miners were working about 4,000 feet underground. Soon after the explosion, a fire broke out inside the mine, causing parts of the structure to collapse. The blast was heard over a wide area of Sorange.
The explosion severely affected another mine located near the main site. Twelve miners working in the second mine were also trapped. “A total of 36 coal miners were present inside both mines when the blast occurred,” Chief Inspector of Mines Muhammad Atif told Dawn.
He said teams from the Mines and Minerals Department and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) launched a rescue operation after reaching Sorange. He added that 21 miners were missing until late Thursday night as the operation continued.
“We pray for the lives of the trapped miners, but the chances of survival appear bleak as the coal mines caught fire soon after the blast, blocking access to the mine entrances,” Atif said.
The chief inspector said the explosion was believed to have been caused by the accumulation of methane gas at a depth of around 4,000 feet, triggering a fire and filling the mine with hazardous gases. He said most coal mine explosions in Balochistan occurred due to the presence of methane gas.
Mining engineers and workers created alternative routes to access the affected mines, but the presence of large quantities of methane gas and the ongoing fire created major hurdles in reaching the bodies and trapped miners deep underground.
Provincial Minister for Mines and Minerals Mir Shoaib Nosherwani said rescuers had recovered the bodies of 15 miners and were continuing efforts despite serious challenges caused by toxic gases, fire, and collapsed tunnels.
He said all available resources had been mobilised to rescue the remaining trapped workers.
“We share the grief of the bereaved families and will leave no stone unturned in completing the rescue operation,” the minister said.
Nosherwani announced that the provincial government would provide Rs500,000 compensation to the families of each deceased miner, while Rs300,000 would be paid to every injured worker. He also said an inquiry would be conducted into the incident.
