Mining Accidents in Balochistan Continue to Claim Lives as Safety Measures Remain Inadequate
Quetta:Balochistan, rich in mineral resources, including large coal deposits found in its eastern districts, continues to face deadly mining accidents due to outdated mining practices. Despite advancements in coal extraction technology, miners in Balochistan still rely on centuries-old methods, leading to frequent tragedies in the mines.
On January 9, a blast occurred in the coal mine at Sanjdi due to toxic gas accumulation, causing the mine to collapse. Twelve miners were trapped under the debris, and although eleven bodies were recovered four days later, rescue operations for one trapped miner are still ongoing. The victims included ten miners from Shangla, one from Balochistan, and one from Swat.
On Saturday, a local coal mine in Duki experienced a collapse that resulted in the death of Mohammad Ramzan, a miner from Quetta. The mine management handed over his body to the authorities, and after necessary procedures, it was sent to his family.
On Sunday, two miners were trapped in the Kohst area of Balochistan’s Hernai district due to cracks in the mine. After a six-hour rescue operation, their bodies were recovered by the Levies Force and rescue teams.
**Concerns Over Safety and Demand for Investigation**
Abdul Hakim Mujahid, a leader of the National Labour Federation, expressed concern over the continuous mining accidents in the province and called for a transparent investigation into these incidents. He also demanded immediate compensation for the families of the deceased miners. He emphasized the need for concrete actions to enforce health and safety standards in the mining industry to prevent such accidents in the future.
Leaders of the Balochistan Labour Federation, including President Khan Zaman and Chairman Bashir Ahmad Rand, condemned the tragic deaths of the 12 miners in the Sanjdi mine collapse. They accused the Balochistan government and the relevant department authorities of severe negligence in ensuring proper safety measures in coal mines.
**The Growing Danger of Coal Mines in Balochistan**
Speaking to V News, Sultan Lala, a leader of the Pakistan Labour Federation, highlighted the increasing frequency of coal mine accidents in Balochistan. He mentioned that last year, over 300 miners lost their lives in various accidents, and around 3,000 were injured. As of early 2025, 19 more miners have already died in similar incidents.
Lala pointed out the lack of basic safety facilities in many local coal mines, including inadequate ventilation, improper pit keeping methods, and failure to conduct essential safety tests. He also accused contractors of cutting corners by not providing necessary safety equipment in the mines, turning coal mines into dangerous death traps for workers.
He criticized the outdated 1923 Coal Mines Act still in force in Balochistan and called on the government to amend the act and introduce modern safety regulations to save workers’ lives.
**Government’s Response**
Chief Inspector of Mines and Minerals, Abdul Ghani, responded to concerns, acknowledging that while large coal mines in the province follow proper safety protocols, smaller mines often fail to comply. He mentioned that authorities frequently inspect these smaller mines, and if safety measures are inadequate, they are sealed. Ghani further explained that when accidents occur, the Mines Department prepares detailed reports and submits them to the court, but delayed judicial decisions have resulted in the continuation of these fatal incidents.
Despite the ongoing concerns and rising casualties, the absence of timely legislative reforms and enforcement of safety regulations leaves miners vulnerable to life-threatening conditions in the coal mines of Balochistan.
