Rescue workers today retrieved the bodies of seven miners, who died of gas suffocation in a coal mine in Pakistan's mineral-rich province of Balochistan.
The coal mine in the Dukki area of strife-ridden Balochistan province collapsed on Thursday following a huge explosion, trapping several workers inside it.
Rescue teams were called in Friday from Quetta, but they failed to retrieve the trapped miners and one of the rescue workers died due to inhaling toxic gas after which the mission was halted briefly.
"A poisonous gas penetrated inside the coal mine causing the death of seven miners," Rasheed Abro, the inspector of mines, was quoted as saying by Pakistani daily the Dawn.
"After three days of hectic efforts, rescue workers had managed to retrieve the dead bodies from the mine," Aurangzaib Kakar, the Deputy Commissioner Loralai said.
The strife-torn province of Balochistan, although rich in gas, oil, mineral deposits and coal, remains one of Pakistan's most poor and backward region and the mines here have a reputation for poor safety standards and bad ventilation.
Mine accidents are common in Balochistan as most of the mines are operated through old methods without taking into consideration the modern safety techniques.
Eight miners were killed in a mine accident in the same district last month.
