12 miners found dead, 8 recovered as Harnai coal mine operation ends

QUETTA, (NNI): The rescue operation at the Harnai coal mine in Balochistan has concluded, with 12 miners recovered dead and eight others rescued alive.

The operation, which lasted through the night, involved coordinated efforts from multiple teams, including the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), district administration, Frontier Corps (FC), and mines department. A tragedy struck Harnai district when a coal mine collapsed on Tuesday night following an explosion, leaving at least 18 miners trapped underground. Extensive rescue efforts were swiftly initiated to free the trapped miners.

The bodies and injured were rushed to the hospital.

Balochistan Mines Chief Inspector Abdul Ghani revealed that the collapse occurred in the Zard Alu area of Harnai, initially trapping 10 miners due to gas accumulation.

As the night progressed, eight miners were rescued from the mine, while the bodies of the remaining 12 were recovered by rescue teams.

Abdul Ghani shed light on the cause of the explosion, attributing it to gas accumulation within the mine, which led to the entrapment of the miners. It further compounded when eight additional miners descended into the mine to aid their colleagues, only as well, he added.

Among those rescued were the miners who had later entered the coal mine to rescue their trapped fellows. However, the toll of lives lost serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent dangers faced by miners in the pursuit of their livelihoods.

The authorities have sealed off the affected coal mine as investigations into the cause of the explosion have commenced.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed grief over the loss of lives consequent to an explosion inside a coal mine in Harnai district of Balochistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prayed to Allah Almighty for peace for the departed souls and sympathised with the bereaved family members. The prime minister instructed the authorities concerned to accelerate the rescue operation for the trapped miners and extend all possible medical treatment to those injured.

"Such incidents are extremely painful and saddening. We stand by the victims' families in this hour of grief. The government will provide maximum possible relief to the injured and the affected families," Prime Minister Shehbaz remarked. to be trapped themselves