QUETTA: A poisonous gas leak inside a coal mine in the Mach area of Quetta has claimed the lives of three miners, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
According to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Khachi, the incident occurred while the victims were working underground. The toxic fumes quickly overwhelmed them, leading to their deaths on the spot.
Upon receiving the alert, police and district administration teams rushed to the site. The bodies of the deceased miners were retrieved and shifted to a nearby hospital for medico-legal formalities.
The victims have been identified as Murad Bakhsh, Ali Hassan, and Dilawar Khan.
Following a preliminary inspection, the Minerals Department sealed the lease of the mine. DC Khachi stated that an investigation into the cause of the gas leak is currently underway.
“A case will be registered against those found responsible for this tragic incident,” the deputy commissioner added.
Last month Toxic Gas Kills Two Miners at Duki Coal Mine
Two young coal miners died after toxic gas filled a coal mine in Duki district of Balochistan, officials said.
The incident occurred in the Chamalang area, where methane gas accumulated inside a local mine. The miners suffocated and died at the site.
The tragedy has once again raised serious concerns about safety conditions in coal mines across the province.
Police identified the victims as Gul, son of Juma Khan, and Nanai, son of Abdul Rahim. Both belonged to the Alizai tribe and were Afghan nationals who had come to Pakistan in search of work. They were working in the Chamalang mines to support their families.
Officials said mining work was underway when toxic gas suddenly filled the shaft. The concentration of methane was so high that both miners lost consciousness within moments and died on the spot. Fellow workers raised the alarm and attempted a rescue, but it was too late.
Rescue teams recovered the bodies from the mine, while police completed legal formalities and handed the bodies over to the families.
The families said they would transport the bodies to their native area for burial.
