SHANGLA: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has ordered an inquiry into the death of three coal miners in a mine blast in Orakzai district and action against the mine lease owner and relevant authorities.

Provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai, in a statement issued here on Sunday, said the chief minister took notice of the Saturday’s incident and ordered an inquiry into it on his recommendations.

He stated that the chief minister also ordered action against the relevant authorities and the mine lease owner. He said that ensuring safety of the coalmine workers was the responsibility of the mine owner and the contractor.

The three coal miners, including two brothers, who were killed in the Orakzai mine explosion, were laid to rest at their ancestral graveyard here on Sunday.

The miners’ bodies were brought from Orakzai district to Banar and Guli areas on Saturday evening. They included Umar Zaman, a resident of Banar, and Haji Mohammad and his brother Ibrar.

Abid Yaar, a rights activist, said 11 miners were also injured in the incident. He said the mine owner, the contractor and managers were responsible for the incident as the mine had already been declared dangerous.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2020