Three Coal Miners Die from Toxic Gas Inhalation in Orakzai
Orakzai, KP – July 27, 2025:
Three coal miners tragically lost their lives after inhaling carbon monoxide gas inside an abandoned coal mine in Orakzai, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), according to local authorities.
Engineer Arshad Ali, a mines inspector in the region, confirmed that Mine No. 3 had been shut for over a year. Despite this, the mine in-charge, accompanied by two laborers, descended into the shaft earlier today. None of them returned.
Ali explained that according to standard operating procedures (SOPs) for coal mine operations, no one is permitted to enter a closed mine until all toxic gases—particularly carbon monoxide—have been ventilated. “They violated the SOPs, entered without proper clearance, and paid the ultimate price,” he stated.
Upon receiving the alert, Ali and his rescue team arrived at the site and deployed special exhaust fans to remove the hazardous gas. The operation concluded with the recovery of all three bodies within an hour.
The deceased have been identified as:
Sher Zaman, resident of Shangla
Aslam, also from Shangla
Rahimullah, resident of Swat
This incident comes just a year after 11 people, including nine coal miners, lost their lives due to methane gas inhalation in a separate mine disaster in Sanjdi, near Quetta.
The tragedy highlights persistent safety violations and underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of mining regulations to prevent further loss of life.
