Five miners were rescued alive while one worker died after a coal mine collapse in Dukki, where rescue teams carried out a lengthy operation to save workers trapped deep underground.
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According to the District Inspector of Mines, the incident took place late Thursday night when a mound of earth suddenly collapsed inside a coal mine, trapping six miners who were working nearly 3,000 feet below the surface.
Rescue operations began immediately after authorities received information about the collapse. Officials said teams worked continuously for several hours under difficult conditions to reach the trapped miners inside the damaged section of the mine.
After around 14 hours of rescue efforts, teams managed to pull one miner out alive. Additional rescue personnel and equipment were later deployed to speed up the operation and improve access to the affected area.
Authorities said four more miners were rescued safely during the later stages of the operation, bringing relief to families gathered near the site awaiting updates on the workers’ condition.
However, officials confirmed that one miner could not survive the incident. During the final phase of the operation, rescue teams recovered the body of the sixth worker from inside the collapsed mine, after which the rescue mission was officially concluded.
The rescued miners were shifted for medical examination and treatment, while authorities began assessing the cause of the collapse. Officials have not yet released the identities of the miners involved in the incident.
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Coal mining remains one of the most hazardous professions in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where mine collapses and gas explosions have resulted in repeated accidents over the years. Safety concerns in mines continue to draw attention from labour groups and local authorities.
Officials said further investigations would be carried out to determine the circumstances that led to the collapse in Dukki.