QUETTA: At least nine coalminers were killed and about 41 others trapped inside when an explosion caused collapse of a mine in Surainj area, some 35km away from here, official sources confirmed. Chief Mines Inceptor Balochistan, Iftikhar Ahmed told media that at least 9 people have been killed and 41 were trapped in a PMDC’s coalmine when due to the accumulation of methane gas it caved in at 3am, late Saturday night.
“Nine dead bodies have been retrieved so far” he said adding rescue operation is underway to take out the remaining laborers who are feared dead as it has past several hours they were trapped under the deep mine after blast ripped through the mine.He however, said that he had informed the concerned authorities about abundance of methane gas in the mine and about the possible mishap.Army has also been called to assist the other teams in the rescue operation, he said.On the directives of the Chief Minister Balochistan, Secretary Mines and Minerals, Mushtaq Raisani, along with the rescue team reached the spot and started efforts to take out the bodies from the mine.“Buildup of methane gas on high level led to the explosion,” said the Secretary Mines and Minerals.Accumulation of gas in the mine was hampering the rescue work but stringent effort are afoot to retrieve the bodies from the rubble, he added.Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani has ordered probe into the Surainj coalmine misshape – APP
