MOHMAND: At least 10 workers died and 18 others were injured when huge parts of the famous Ziarat marble mountain in Safi tehsil of Mohmand tribal district fell onto several nearby mines on Monday evening, police said.

Rescue teams and locals pulled the bodies and the injured from under the rubble and shifted them to hospitals in the district headquarters Ghalanai, Bajaur and Peshawar.

District Police Officer Tariq Habib while talking to Dawn confirmed the incident.

The death toll may increase as according to sources several people and vehicles were still trapped under the rubble.

Rescuers faced difficulty in removal of debris due to lack of heavy machinery needed for the purpose, local resident Alam Zeb Mohmand told Dawn by phone from the area.

The deceased included Farhad, son of Sher Khan; Farhad Khan, son of Mirzaman; and Waheed, son of Mirzada.

Chaotic situation prevailed as families of the missing people working at the marble mountain were arriving at the scene only to find themselves helpless in the absence of adequate rescue operation. Anguished relatives were seen crying for help.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in a telephonic message said that rescue teams of Pakistan Army and provincial government were on way to the scene of the tragedy.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2020