GHALANAI: At least five people were killed, two injured and five others remained unaccounted for after a landslide hit a marble mine in Safi tehsil of Mohmand tribal region on Saturday.

Officials told Dawn that the victims were working in a marble mine in Khanqa Miangan area when landslide occurred, trapping at least 10 workers inside the mine.

An eyewitness, Ajmal Khan, told Dawn on phone from the site of the occurrence that the landslide trapped 10 workers, three trucks and two heavy machines. He said that three loaders were working to remove the mass of land and retrieve the bodies, adding that five bodies had been pulled out, while five others were still buried under the debris.

The bodies were identified as Waheed Gul, Shakir Khan, Ibrar khan, Mohammad Wali and Siddiq. They were shifted to the agency headquarters hospital, Ghalanai. Two other workers, who were outside the mine at the time of the incident, suffered injuries. They were shifted to hospital.

APA Zeeshan Abdullah told Dawn that the labourers were busy working when the incident occurred. He said that the administration was facing difficulties in the rescue work due to non-availability modern machinery.

Mr Abdullah said that the political administration with the help of Khasadars and Levies force had initiated the rescue work.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2015

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