Cries of coal miners in Balochistan
Analysis:
Perhaps, the cries of coal miners fall on deaf ears in Balochistan like in other parts of the country. Horrific news of coal miners buried alive, burnt to death, severely injured by methane gas blasts continue to surface from different areas of the province.
Such tragedies are yet to attract the attention of rulers and above all make no headlines in the so-called mainstream national media. Incidents in coal mines are always ignored. No, follow up investigation and inquiries, when it comes to the death of hapless miners in Balochistan.
Hazardous working conditions have claimed thousands of precious human lives inside 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 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.
Coal mines incidents rampant in Balochistan
Incidents in Dukki, Mach, Chamalang, Sorange, Khost, Harnai, and other parts of Balochistan are rampant in coal mines.
Six coal miners trapped when a fire erupted inside the coal mines the other day in the Chamalang area of Balochistan. Fortunately, rescue workers backed by the Frontier Corps (FC) rescued all six miners after nine hours-long operations. The technical team dispatched from Quetta in a helicopter to ensure the unhurt recovery of coal miners.
The mines and mineral department government of Balochistan is reluctant to share data of incidents with the media. Although, thousands have died in the coal mines of Balochistan during last more than a decade. Mines owners are hardly punished for poor working conditions that cause such tragedies.
Broken families need to be provided a reasonable compensation
Broken and poverty-hit families need to be provided reasonable compensation by the government and mines owners. Currently, the families are paid a nominal amount by mine owners. It is time for the government to make sure the implementation of the 1923 mines acts to save precious human lives.
Such incidents cause a national outrage in other parts of the globe. Nonetheless, they go unnoticed in this part of the world. It is a matter of our collective conscience and responsibilities to raise voice for saving precious human lives and raising voice for a down-trodden class of society.
To be precise, the implementation of the 1923 mines act can help reduce the number of such incidents in the coal mines of Balochistan.
Cries of coal miners in Balochistan
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