Hussain Zarkoon, Syed Ali Shah:
DUKKI, QUETTA:
Rescue workers have been making hectic efforts to ensure the unhurt recovery of coal miners inside a coal mine in Balochistan’s Dukki district.
“120 hours on, the operation is still underway”, Syed Saboor Agha, the district police officer (DPO) said. He said scores of coal miners and rescue workers were trying to recover the trapped coal miners.
Also Read: Cries of coal miners
2 coal miners trapped inside the mine
At least two coal miners were trapped when a coal mine was suddenly filled with rainwater in the Dukki mines area. The incident happened five days back.
“We demand the deployment of trained rescue workers”, Muhammad Usman, one of the coal miners engaged in the rescue operation said. He said coal miners and the rescue workers present on the spot were not better equipped to recover the trapped miners.
No rescue workers from PDMA so far
Hundreds of coal miners from nearby mines gathered outside the affected mine and made efforts for the recovery of the trapped miners.
So far, no trained rescue workers from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reached the spot to participate in the rescue efforts.
“PDMA should at least provide food for rescue workers and coal miners”, Nazar Muhammad, another coal miner demanded. He said PDMA had to dispatch trained rescue workers to support the rescue work in the Dukki district of Balochistan.
Family members of miners suffering through dumb agony
Family members of the trapped coal miners have been suffering through dumb agony as they are extremely concerned about the lives of their loved ones.
Dukki mines area houses hundreds of coal mines. Such incidents inside mines of the Dukki area have become the order of the day. So far, the Mines Department Balochistan has not been able to ensure the implementation of the mines act in mines located across Dukki and Balochistan.
Rights groups criticize the government and mines owners
Hazardous working conditions inside coal mines of Balochistan have claimed scores of precious human lives so far. Rights groups and labor organizations have strongly criticized the contractors, government officials, and mine owners for not improving the working conditions for the miners.
