KOHAT: The administration of Darra Adamkhel has arrested Talib Jan, manager of Akhorwal coal mine who was supposed to ensure wearing of safety equipment by the labourers before entering coal mine. It also held him responsible for the explosion which left nine miners dead last week.

Interestingly, his subordinate who allows the labourers to enter the mine after checking their dress and equipment has gone scot free.

The administration held separate meetings with the Fata Development Authority, miners’ association and labor union after the incident. The president of miners association, Noor Mohammad, took the administration officials to the stores and showed him safety equipment.

He claimed that the labourers refused to wear dust and oxygen masks, carry gas testing meters, put on fire dress, etc.

An official Azam Khan told this scribe on Tuesday that the miners and labourers would now be strictly bound to wear safety equipment and in case of incident the respective manager and miner association would be responsible. He said that the manager had been booked for Akhorwal incident and put in the lock-up.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2018