Tariq Saeed Peshawar
A deadly explosion in a coalmine in Orakzai tribal district on Wednesday afternoon left at least nine miners dead and four others seriously wounded.
The blast, as the reports reaching here said, occurred in a coalmine in Doli area of Lower Orakzai tribal district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa around 3 p.m.
According to the District Police officer the blast was caused by a gas explosion. At the time of the blast reportedly 13 mine workers were present in the blast and were trapped due to explosion.
The rescue workers and the law enforcers rushed to the site of the explosion and initiated rescue workers with the help of the locals. Nine dead bodies were retrieved from the coal mines while 4 people were recovered from the debris in serious condition and were rushed tom the local hospitals for treatment where their condition was stated to be as stable.
The deaths and injuries to the mine labors were caused due to suffocation. A senior journalist of Kohat attributed poor safety measures as major cause of the blast. He told observer on phone that most of such incidents have been happening owing to improper safety arrangements adopted by the mine owners for the poor mine workers who always manage to escape responsibilities for such like happenings in connivance with the authorities controlling the mining affairs . As usual most of the victims belong to the Shangla district while some hailed from Orakzai agency.
In the meanwhile Commissioner Kohat has ordered immediate inquiry into the incident. He directed the DC Orakzai to mobilize all available resources for rescue of the trapped workers, injured persons and dead bodies. He also directed quick and effective medical treatment for the injured workers. According to officials the incident occurred due to methane gas eruption inside the mine of Shaheen Mine Company.
Commissioner Kohat has ordered the mining companies to adopt the latest mining procedures in their leased mines and warned that strict legal action will be taken against negligent mine holders.
The governor KP Haji Ghulam Ali and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mehmood Khan have expressed their shock over the tragic incident and sympathized with the bereaved families. They also directed the concerned authorities to ensure best medical facilities to the injured coal miners.
