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8 miners die in Kohat coalmine
At least eight miners died in a coalmine in Kohat district's Akhurwal village on Wednesday morning, in an incident that left at least three others injured, according to local and foreign media reports.
The mine's owner claimed the miners died after inhaling poisonous gas but a member of the local administration said there was an explosion in the mine that may have caused its roof to collapse.
Malik Haji Khista Hussain, the owner of the mine, told DawnNewsTV that there had been 12 miners working in three groups in the mine at around 7:30am. He said that "eight or nine" died after inhaling poisonous gas before they could be rescued, whereas the four remaining affected miners were hospitalised.
Officials from the assistant commissioner's office told reporters that arrangements are being made to transport the four affectees ─ one of whom is in critical condition ─ from Darra Adam Khel District Headquarters Hospital to Peshawar where there are better facilities for treatment.
However, a senior member of the local administration, Khalid Ilyas told the Associated Press that at least nine miners had died in an explosion in the coalmine. He added that three miners were injured in the blast, and that a rescue operation had been launched shortly after the blast, with officers investigating the incident.
In a separate AFP report, the casualties were incurred when the roof of a coalmine collapsed. An administration official identified as Shahid Ilyas said that two seriously wounded workers had been pulled out of the mine along with the bodies of nine miners.
A senior local police official, Muhammad Ejaz, confirmed the incident and said they were investigating it.
Poor working conditions inside coal mines in the country claim the lives of miners on a regular basis but often go unreported.
Coal mining is considered much more hazardous than hard rock mining due to flat-lying rock strata, generally incompetent rock, leakage or explosion of poisonous gases and coal dust, collapsing of mine stopes or general mechanical errors from improper use and malfunctioning of mining equipment.
According to the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation, between 100 and 200 labourers die on average in coal mine accidents every year.
Comments (9) Closed
First the local organization are unable to improve the working conditions. Later when the govt decides to give the contracts to international firms, then these people protest.
Flammable gases, especially methane are found in areas where the coal is bituminous. The gas accumulates in pockets in the coal and adjacent strata. When penetrated they release gas. Miners can be overcome by gas. Mining operations can also set off an explosion of methane gas.
Poor labours government need to do find out ways for these incidents so sad
The new gov can atleast audit facilitied being provided to the miners and the safety gear provided by the companies.
Ik should form a committee to see coalmine operations and there should be no more deaths.
I hope they were given examplary medical treatement by kpk govt as PM imran has repeatedly claimed !
What a grave and great tragedy?
Chinese and Pakistani coal mining industries are the deadliest in the world --- mine owners push production beyond safety limits for own profits.
@khan and that means what???/?