CHAKWAL: Two miners were killed while four others sustained burn injuries after an explosion rocked a coal mine near Karooli village in tehsil Kallar Kahar on Thursday.

“The explosion occurred due to methane gas accumulated in the mine,” Mines and Mineral Inspector Mohammad Shafi told Dawn.

Rescue 1122 officials said 25 miners were working in the 4,000-ft deep mine at the time of explosion.

“The labourers entered the mine in the morning and excavated more than two tonnes of coal before the tragic incident,” owner of the mine and PTI District President Pir Waqar Hussain said, adding one of the labourers hit the coal bed with a mattock, resulting in the explosion; six workers, originally from Kashmir got trapped inside.

Aksar Yasin, 21, died on the spot while five others identified as Mohammad Saghir, 35, Lateef, 43, Shoaib, 17, Mohammad Rehman, 40, and Nauman, 25, were injured. They were rushed to Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital Kallar Kahar. Saghir was immediately shifted to Burn Centre, Kharian where he passed away.

“All six workers belong to the same village in Kashmir and they are close relatives,” Mr Shafi said, adding the four injured miners’ condition was stable.

Methane is a colourless, odourless and highly combustible gas composed of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. The gas is generated by coal in mines.

“Every mine must have an air flow system which helps dilute the gas. We are checking whether they was any security lapse in the mine or not. Both workers, who lost their lives would be compensated under law. The mine owner has to pay Rs500,000 while Rs600,000 is to be paid by the department to heirs of workers who die due to such incidents,” the inspector added.

Mr Hussain said proper security measures were in place in the mine, adding: “Our mines are inspected by the authorities concerned twice a month.”

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2021