Coal mine explosion in Harnai district killed 12 people

There was an explosion in a coal mine in the Zardalo area of the Harnai district in Balochistan which killed several people. According to earlier media reports, it was claimed that 18 miners were trapped after a large piece of mine collapsed due to a massive explosion.

The Department of Chief Inspectors of Mines said teams had initiated a rescue mission. Balochistan’s Chief Inspector of Mines, Abdul Ghani Baloch, stated the rescue team had just completed the operation.

🚨⚡️Gas explosion in Balochistan coal mine traps 18 miners underground

▪️ Blast in Zardallu area near Harnai caused mine collapse, trapping 10 miners.

▪️ 8 more miners stranded while attempting rescue.

▪️ Rescue operation ongoing. pic.twitter.com/dFf4CHYDiF
— WE News English (@WENewsEnglish) March 20, 2024

Abdul said 20 miners had been inside the mine when a methane gas explosion occurred. He stated rescue teams obtained 12 dead bodies. Meanwhile, they transported the survivors to the hospital.

According to Abdul, rescue authorities recovered two dead bodies in the night and twelve dead bodies in the morning. Abdullah Shahwani, the province’s director general of mining, verified that 12 people died in a coal mine explosion in Harnai district.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif released a statement expressing deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives. He said such tragedies are painful and sad. He ordered to offer all medical treatment and possible relief to the injured miners and their families.

Click here to read updates on the building collapse in Multan that killed nine people

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah expressed sadness over the tragic event. They expressed condolences to the lost families and prayed for the rapid recovery of those injured.

Earlier, a year ago, a coal miner died, and three received burn injuries in a methane gas explosion in a mine in the Duki coal field. However, another fire broke out in a private mine in the Duki coal area in December 2023. It resulted in casualties of two people and injured three.

In a separate incident, three miners died due to a trap under the rubble of a coal mine. Ultimately, they died in Jamshoro, Sindh. This incident happened in September last year.