Five Shangla miners killed in Kurram coal mine collapse

At least five coal miners from Shangla district lost their lives when a section of a coal mine collapsed in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday.

Rescue teams are still struggling to retrieve the remaining bodies amid difficult and hazardous conditions.

According to initial reports, the incident occurred in the Yasta Tora Warai area of Kurram, where six miners were working deep underground when the mine suddenly caved in, trapping them inside.

Rescue teams, assisted by local volunteers, rushed to the site and began an operation to recover the trapped workers. So far, one body, identified as Ziwarur Rehman son of Abdullah, has been recovered, while efforts continue to retrieve the remaining miners.

Authorities identified the victims as Tajullah son of Sultane, Ziwarur Rehman son of Abdullah, Shaukat son of Tota, Nazullah son of Itibar Gul, and Jan Muhammad son of Gul Sadbar, all residents of Shangla’s Ishar Kot and Landai Puran areas.

Rescue officials said heavy machinery is being used in the operation, but progress remains slow due to the depth of the mine and water accumulation inside. Large numbers of relatives and locals from Shangla have gathered at the site, anxiously waiting for updates.

The tragic collapse once again underscores the unsafe working conditions faced by miners from underdeveloped areas like Shangla, where men often travel to distant regions in search of livelihood, risking their lives in poorly regulated coal mines.

Officials have not yet issued a final statement on the total casualties, saying the situation will become clearer once the rescue operation concludes.