Desk
QUETTA: The death toll from Friday’s roadside bomb attack on a bus carrying coal miners in Harnai, Balochistan, has risen to 12, after another injured worker succumbed to his wounds.
The miners were traveling from the Takari coal field to Shahrag Bazaar for their weekly grocery shopping when their bus was targeted. The latest victim, identified as Mohtaram, was among six others wounded in the attack.
The injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital Quetta’s trauma center, where two remain in critical condition under intensive care, according to hospital spokesperson Dr. Wasim Baig.
Victims Identified
The 11 miners who died on the spot have been identified as:
Iqbal Hussain
Javed
Umer Ali
Dulatmand
Bacha Hussain
Hazrat Khan
Hanifullah Gul
Rehmatullah
Ayazullah
Rehmat Shahid
The injured survivors include Mohtaram, Abdul Malik, Bakht Zahir, Yarzada, M. Rawan, and Shabaz Ali. The bodies of the deceased have been sent to their native areas in Swat district.
Pl Subscribe to the Youtube Channel of republicpolicy.com for quality podcasts:
In protest against the attack, a complete strike was observed in Shahrag town on Saturday. The Mines Labourers Federation called for the strike, demanding justice for the victims and better security for coal workers.
All shops, markets, and business centers remained closed throughout the day, with minimal traffic movement in the area.
Mineworkers expressed their frustration, stating that mine owners and contractors pay authorities for security in key coal mining regions like Duki, Harnai, Shahrag, and Chamalang, yet their safety remains uncertain.
Pl subscribe to our Monthly English Magazine
Workers have urged the government to bring those responsible to justice immediately and to ensure stronger security measures to protect miners from further attacks.
