Hanif Tareen, News Desk :
HARNAI: After 12 hours, three coal miners are still trapped inside a mine in the Harnai district of Balochistan. Six coal miners were trapped after a methane gas explosion in the Zarghoon Ghar area of the district. “Rescue workers have reduced three miners”, Sardar Rafique Tareen, Deputy Commissioner Harnai told Quetta Voice.
“Three coal miners are still trapped”, the Deputy Commissioner informed. A rescue operation was underway in the Zarghoon Ghar area to make sure the unhurt recovery of the trapped miners. Despite repeated calls from the district administration, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) rescue team reached Harnai after 10 hours.
“The PDMA and mines and minerals department’s team arrived after 10 hours delay”, Levies
“The PDMA and mines and minerals department’s team arrived after 10 hours delay”, a local levies official told this scribe. He requested anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The miners reduced earlier in the morning were shifted to the district headquarters hospital Harnai for medical treatment. “Rescue workers are now facing difficulties to recover the trapped miners as the night falls”, Sardar Rafique Tareen mentioned. A team of PPHI medical professionals led by Dr. Dawood was also on the spot to assist the rescue efforts, the Deputy Commissioner stated.
Rights groups concerned over the incident
Rights groups have expressed serious concern over increasing incidents of coal mines in Dukki and other parts of Balochistan. “This is a human tragedy, every day people are dying”, Habib Tahir Advocate, the Chairman Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Balochistan Chapter said.
He demanded of the government to implement the mining rules and act and protect the lives of the hapless coal miners. Poor working conditions inside coal mines have claimed thousands of precious human lives. Such incidents are the order of the day in Dukki, Harnai, Mach, Sorange, Degari, and other coal reservoirs-rich parts of the province.
