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March 29, 2024
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Lahore
EditorialMines of death

Mines of death

In Pakistan, coal mines have turned into “valleys of death,” where people are killed while extracting coal using antiquated techniques with no safety precautions. The most recent instance of this is the terrible episode on Saturday when a gas explosion killed five coal miners at a mine in the Shahrag coalfield region of the Harnai district, and another worker went missing throughout the daylong rescue effort. In the early hours of November 30, a coal mine explosion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Orakzai area resulted in the deaths of nine people. 237 laborers lost their lives in coal mine explosions in 2021, according to the Pakistan Mine Labor Federation. Sad to say, hardly anyone is paying attention to the grave and pervasive issue of fatalities in blind coal mines. In Pakistan, thousands of people work in the coal mining industry to remove coal from depths greater than 1,700 feet. The hazardous gas zone begins in the coal mines after 800 to 1000 feet, according to specialists.

No safety precautions are used by the workers. Gas explosions are the primary cause of accidents in mines. The sad tragedy in the Dolai neighbourhood of the Orakzai district was likewise caused by a gas explosion. Initial reports state that the explosion occurred at a depth of 2,500 feet, causing the mine to settle and bury the workers beneath the debris. To avoid accidents, it is required to monitor the toxic gas before beginning work in the mine, ensure the presence of oxygen, plan alternative routes inside the mine, and adhere to safety accessories, all of which are neglected. Accidents are also frequently caused through the contracting system. Contractors are more concerned with how to get more coal than with safety procedures to safeguard human life.

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