Local authorities reported that eight workers died from inhalation of toxic methane gas yesterday while two other workers were rushed to hospital unconscious.
Senior mining inspector Iftikhar Ahmed told Agence France-Presse that the incident happened when 200 miners were working more than 600m below the surface.
“The blast took place due to methane gas. Eight workers died on the spot while two others were taken to hospital after being rescued,” he said.
Ahmed said miners had accused the owner of ignoring safety measures.
An investigation has been opened.
Last November, an explosion killed eight workers and injured another 50 at a mine in Pakistan’s northern town of Hangu.
The electricity-hungry nation of 180 million people is under pressure to accelerate exploitation of its barely touched coal reserves.
The country’s 9000sq.km Thar coalfield in the Sindh province has been reported to hold some 175 billion tonnes of low-energy coal.
The government has invested heavily in Thar area infrastructure and has designated the area a special economic zone with incentives for foreign investors.
