12 bodies of miners retrieved after 6-day rescue operation

QUETTA: All 12 bodies of the coal miners who had been trapped in a mine over 4000 feet deep inside after the methane gas explosion, have been retrieved after 6 days rescue operation.

“The last victim of the Sanjdi mine tragedy was recovered on Tuesday morning which was found 3000 feet deep in the mine,” Chief Inspector of Mines Balochistan Ghani Baloch said, adding the operation is completed.

Ten out 12 miners who died in the mine mishap belong to Shangla district of KP. Their bodies were sent to their native area. “It was the second big mine incident in this mine in the last one year.

In the last incident of methane gas explosion 11 mines had lost their lives. Ghani said, “Case has been registered against Sheikh Aziz and Hayat Khan the owners of the mine,” Chief Inspector of Mines said, adding that the mine has been abandoned and a probe into the incident launched.

He said that during the last one year around 42 mine incidents occurred across the province and 82 miners had been killed. However, Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation’s Secretary General Lala Sultan Muhammad put last year’s death toll at 129 and alleged the mines and mineral department failed to implement safety measures in coal mines. “We want rectification of safety slandered and ILO-C 176,” Sultan Muhammad said.

Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has directed strict action against the mine owners who were not implementing safety measures.