QUETTA: Five miners were killed due to a roof collapse in heavy rainfall in the Duki coal mines area, while a new spell of torrential rains in many areas of the province, incl­uding Quetta, also suspended traffic on highways.

Officials said heavy rain lashed vast areas of Duki, Harnai, and San­javi, during which a room where the coal miners were housed collapsed, resulting in the deaths of five miners who were sleeping after working in the mine.

The Levies and mine workers rushed to the site, recovered the bodies of the victims, and shifted them to the hospital.

The deceased were identified as Inayatullah son of Musa Jan, Muham­mad Ibrahim, Wali Muha­m­mad, Zafar­ullah, and Saddaruddin. After medico-legal formalities, the bodies were handed over to the heirs.

Torrential rains halt highway traffic across province

Meanwhile, a new rain spell lashing Quetta for the last 24 hours flooded many areas of the main city and submerged downstream areas.

Other areas of Baloc­histan, including Kalat, Mastung, Pishin, Ziarat, Loralai, Zhob, Qila Saifu­llah, Chaman, Sibi, and Harnai, also received hea­vy rains.

Traffic has been suspended between Zhob and Dera Ismail Khan due to heavy landslides on the N-50 highway at the Zhob-Dha­nasar section after heavy rain. All kinds of traffic have been suspended on the highway.

National Highway officials said machinery and staffers have been mobilised amd it will take about 72 hours to clear the road for all kinds of traffic.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2024