SHANGLA: Five workers, who died in separate mine incidents in Orakzai and Swat districts on Thursday, were laid to rest in their ancestral graveyards in Alpuri and Kana tehsils here on Friday.

Abid Yaar Khan, general secretary of Shangla coal mine workers’ association, said a gas explosion caused the deaths of three miners in Orakzai mine, who were identified as Rahimullah, Liaqat Ali, and Sherzada, residents of Daulat Kallay area of Alpuri.

He added Hassanzada and Mohammad Afsar Khan of Kana tehsil died in an emerald mine incident in Swat.

Mr Yaar insisted that fatal incidents were occurring as these mines operated illegally, but despite repeated protests and appeals, the authorities failed to ban the mines.

Meanwhile, the Shangla administration has decided to engage with line departments and non-government organisations to develop a welfare strategy for coal miners’ families.

The decision was taken during a meeting with the representatives of the line departments and NGOs here the other day. Alpuri assistant commissioner Mohammad Hamid Saddiqui chaired the meeting.

The meeting was attended by assistant commissioner mines, assistant director Qatar Charity, assistant director local government, project director Pak mission society, district secretary Pakistan Red Crescent Society and others.

The assistant commissioner told Dawn the families of those killed in mine accidents were leading wretched lives.

“The relevant departments have been instructed to gather information about coal miners in order to develop a welfare policy that would guarantee free and high-quality education for the children of coal miners and basic amenities for their families,” he said.

FACILITATION DESK: The police would set up a foreigners’ facilitation centre to provide information and security to the people travelling through the Karakoram Highway within the limits of Shangla or staying here.

District police officer Imran Khan on Friday said the centre would be established in Shang area of Bisham.

STRAY DOGS BITE CHILDREN: Four children were injured in Alpuri tehsil’s Dehrai Bazaar when they were bitten by stray dogs. District Headquarters Hospital received Abdali, 7, Savera, 11, Asmat Ali, 9, and Salar Khan, 12, in its emergency department after the incident. Two of the injured children were shifted to a Swat hospital due to the seriousness of their wounds.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2024