QUETTA: Two coal miners succumbed to suffocation in a coal mine in Harnai coal field area due to inhaling poisonous gas on Sunday.

The Chief Inspector of Mines Abdul Ghani said that both miners were working when methane gas accumulated, rendering them unconscious deep within the mine.

Rescue teams promptly arrived and initiated operations. While one body has been recovered, efforts continue to retrieve the other miner.

The deceased were identified as Karbali and Haji Rehman, uncle and nephew from the Shangla area of Swat.

“Rescue operations are hindered by substantial methane levels in the affected mine,” officials stated.

Two killed in Turbat

In the second incident, two unknown armed men kidnapped and subsequently killed two labourers from a crushing plant in the Turbat area of Kech district on Sunday.

According to the police, a group of armed men entered a crushing plant owned by a former provincial minister in the Gogidan area of Turbat early in the morning and abducted two labourers at gunpoint, who were working at the plant.

Later, the armed men tortured and killed both labourers, then abandoned their bodies in a desolate area near Turbat Town.

Local residents informed the police about the discovery of two bodies. Responding swiftly, the police arrived at the scene and shifted the bodies to the district hospital.

“Both victims sustained multiple bullet injuries on various parts of their bodies,” the police stated.

The deceased labourers were identified as Saqib son of Mursaleen, and Saddam son of Yamin, both from Multan. Following autopsy, their bodies were sent back to their respective hometowns.

“It seems like an act of terrorism,” the police said, adding that an investigation was under way.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2023