Qaseem Shah:
Sorange Quetta: Rescue workers have recovered 32 bodies from two coal mines in the Sorange coalfield near Quetta following a deadly methane gas explosion, while efforts are continuing to locate two miners who remain trapped underground.
The incident occurred on Thursday at a privately operated coal mine in the Sorange coalfield, around 30 kilometres northeast of Quetta. According to mine officials, a methane gas explosion triggered a fire inside the mine, causing sections of the tunnel to collapse and impacting a nearby mine as well.
Chief Inspector of Mines Balochistan Muhammad Atif said a total of 34 miners were working inside the two mines when the explosion took place.
“Rescue teams have recovered 32 bodies so far, while the search operation is still in progress to recover the remaining two miners from the affected mine,” he said.
Officials said 24 miners were working nearly 4,000 feet below the surface in the main mine when the blast occurred. The explosion was followed by a fire that spread through the underground tunnels, leading to a partial collapse. The force of the blast was reportedly heard across the Sorange area.
The nearby mine, where 12 miners were working at the time, was also damaged by the explosion.
Rescue operations have faced significant challenges due to the continued presence of methane gas, underground fire, and unstable mine structures. Mining engineers and rescue workers created alternative access routes to reach the trapped miners, but hazardous conditions slowed the operation.
Balochistan Minister for Mines and Minerals Mir Shoaib Nosherwani announced financial assistance of Rs500,000 for the family of each deceased miner and Rs300,000 for every injured worker. He also ordered an inquiry to determine the cause of the accident and identify any safety lapses.
Coal mining remains one of the most dangerous occupations in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where fatal accidents linked to gas explosions, tunnel collapses, and inadequate safety measures continue to claim lives. Earlier this year, three miners were killed in a coal mine accident in Bolan, while another mining-related explosion in Khanuzai left three people injured.
