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Methane Explosion in Harnai Coal Mine Kills Four, Injures Several

Officials say accumulated methane caused a collapse in a deep PMDC-owned shaft prompting the provincial mining department to demand a written inquiry.

Overview

  • A methane buildup ignited inside an 800-foot coal shaft in Shahrag, Harnai district, causing an explosion and collapse that left four miners dead and multiple others injured.
  • Rescue teams carried out hours-long operations to recover the bodies and injured workers and also brought two trapped rescue personnel out alive.
  • Two people with severe burn injuries were referred to Quetta Civil Hospital for advanced treatment while other patients received care locally.
  • Accounts vary on the number of injured miners and the home districts of the deceased, with official statements naming both Dir and Swat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
  • The provincial mining department has demanded a written inquiry into the PMDC-owned mine and the blast renews safety concerns after a July methane-linked collapse in Sorange.