Tariq Saeed
Peshawar
The death toll in Mohmand marble mine tragedy has mounted to 19 with the district administration fearing the toll would go higher as still around 20 miners are still trapped under tons of debris.
It may be recalled that a marble mine in Safi Tehsil of Mohmand Tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa collapsed during the blasting process on Monday late night leaving scores of workers trapped under tons of debris. Some reports say the tragic incident took place when a rock rolled over the mine from the nearby mountain.
While the rescue workers retrieved a dozen dead bodies from the marble mine, the district administration had to stop the operation 2.am Tuesday due to darkness. . “19 dead bodies have so far retrieved from the rubble while nine persons were rescued in injured condition.
Several miners are still missing in the incident”. Officials of the district administration said while the sources said due to darkness and mine being at a remote area and fear of more land sliding the rescue operation was stopped.
“The rescue operation is unlikely to be completed soon as the area is very vast and there is possibility of more land sliding. The rescue operation has been started after it was stopped due to darkness at around 02am Tuesday”. The District Police Officer (DPO) Mohmand Tariq Habib said fearing some 15 to 20 workers as well as a loader and two trucks and are also trapped in the debris hence the death toll may go higher.
Heavy machinery and manpower have been dispatched to the area for assistance in the rescue operation and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) is assisting in the Operation. While 8 bodies were retrieved on Tuesday around a dozen injured have been shifted to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital. Reports said that a loader and two trucks are also trapped in the debris and expressed fear that the death toll will mount further.