File Photo: Rescue workers outside the coal mine that claimed seven lives of miners in Balochistan's Harnai district: Photo provided by Hanif Tareen

Dukki: Methane gas blast injures 7 coal miners

Mir Salam Jogezai

A methane gas explosion has injured 7 coal miners in Balochistan’s Dukki district on Monday evening. Coal miners were working deep inside the mine when the coal mine filled with methane gas.

Sabir Shah, the mines inspector said the blast injured seven coal miners. Rescue workers rushed towards the coal mine and shifted the injured to the district hospital Dukki for medical treatment. Emergency imposed in the hospital to treat the injured of the blast.

Condition of injured miners is out of danger

“The condition of the injured minor is out of danger”, Mr. Shah said. The injured coal miners belong to the neighboring country Afghanistan. Hospital sources said the injured were identified as Ghaffar, Matiullah, Manzoor, Siddique, Niamatullah, Bakhtullah, and Naik Muhammad.

Coal mines incidents are an order of the day 

“With no safety, I have been extracting coal from this mine”, Muhammad Nabi, a coal miner in Balochistan’s Dukki district told Quetta Voice via telephone. Most of the coal miners have no proper training. “No safety no proper salary”, Mr. Nabi said. “We are extracting coal at the cost of our lives”, he lamented.

321 mines closed over poor safety conditions

The Balochistan Mines and Mineral Department had closed 321 mines over poor safety conditions in Mach, Dukki, Harnai, Strange and Marwar. “Cases of 206 mines sent to courts”, the Secretary informed. So far, courts have decided 30 cases, he mentioned.

Hazardous working conditions claiming precious human lives 

Hazardous working conditions have claimed thousands of precious human lives inside the coal mines of Balochistan, which houses rich coal reservoirs. Almost with no safety, the miners enter into mines in the morning and extract coal for a whole day. Fortunate are those who come out alive in the evening. As per the 1923 mines act, the inspector of mines is bound to inspect the mine in the morning prior to the entry of miners. Similarly, children, minor boys, and women are not allowed to step inside the mine according to the act.

Dukki: Methane gas blast injures 7 coal miners

Journalist Hussain Zarkoon from Dukki also contributed to this report 

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Quetta Voice is an English Daily covering all unfolding political, economic and social issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province in terms of area. QV's main focus is on stories related to education, promotion of quality education and publishing reports about out of school children in the province. QV has also a vigilant eye on health, climate change and other key sectors.