The rescue operation in the tragic mining accident in the Nongabad mountain range of Rustam tehsil of Mardan is continuing for the second day, in which fresh teams of Rescue 1122 are participating.
According to rescue officials, 9 workers have died so far due to landslide during marble extraction yesterday, while 2 people have been rescued and shifted to the hospital in an injured condition.
A total of 11 people have been rescued during the operation, however, there are still reports of one worker missing under the rubble, for whom heavy machinery and disaster response teams are active in searching. Rescue officials say that due to the difficult mountain paths and large amount of debris, caution is being exercised in the operation so that there is no further loss of life.
On the other hand, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, taking notice of the incident, has directed the district administration to intensify rescue activities and conduct an inquiry into the violation of safety measures during mining.
The tragic mining accident that took place in the Nongabad mountain range of Rustam tehsil of Mardan reflects the serious combination of natural disasters and lack of safety measures in the mining sector in the province.
The incident took place on March 31, 2026, when a blast was made in a mountain rock to extract marble, resulting in a large part of the mountain falling in the form of a landslide and crushing the workers there. According to initial reports, more than 12 workers were busy working at the time of the accident, who were buried under hundreds of tons of debris that suddenly fell.
A major reason for the accident is also being said to be the heavy rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent days, which further weakened the mountain slopes. According to Rescue 1122, the volume of debris is so high that it required heavy machinery and several hours of continuous struggle to remove it. So far, the bodies of 9 workers have been recovered, while one worker is still missing, for whom the operation is still ongoing for the second day.
Questions are also being raised at the administrative level as to whether the mining company had followed safety rules and blasting regulations, for which the provincial government has ordered a high-level inquiry. The accident also assumes significance in that several lives have already been lost in the past few days in rains and roof collapses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has further increased the pressure on rescue agencies.
Read also: 10 workers trapped in KP mine collapse as Rescue operation continues
