SHANGLA: Grief turned into anger as family members of the 28 coal miners killed in twin mine collapses near Quetta accused the government of abandoning them in their worst hour.
Shangla district is mourning the deaths of 28 young coal miners, including 23 residents of Mian Kaly, who were killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine on the outskirts of Quetta on Thursday.
The victims’ relatives said they had to transport the bodies of their loved ones in private vans at their own expense because no government ambulances were provided to bring the remains home.
The Shangla Coal Mine Workers Association said that following the deaths of 23 miners from Mian Kaly, almost every household in the village was mourning the loss of a family member.
Abid Yaar, president of the Shangla Coal Mine Workers Association, said that Mian Kaly had become the epicentre of repeated coal mine tragedies.
“A total of 28 deceased workers were from Shangla district — 23 from Mian Kaly (Pir Abad), two from Kana, and one each from Bada and Gata Bely Baba,” he said.
Family members criticised the government for not arranging ambulances to transport the bodies, saying they were left with no choice but to hire vans.
“We lost our breadwinners, and now we have to pay from our own pockets to take them home,” one grieving relative said. “There was no ambulance, no support, nothing from the government.”
Most of the deceased belonged to Swat and Shangla districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The bodies were sent to their native towns for burial.
Following the incident, members of the Mines Labour Federation staged a protest outside the Quetta Press Club. They demanded strict action against mine owners and immediate improvements in safety measures.
Protesters said most coal mines in the area lack basic facilities like first aid, proper ventilation, and emergency transport. “These deaths could have been prevented if safety laws were enforced,” a union leader said.
Mining remains one of the most dangerous jobs in Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation, 100 to 200 labourers die every year in coal mine accidents due to poor equipment and lack of training.
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