At least nine labourers died, and seven others sustained critical injuries following a roadside bomb explosion in Balochistan’s Shahrag area, near Harnai on Friday, targeted a vehicle carrying coal miners.
The bomb, concealed by the roadside, detonated as the vehicle passed, causing immediate casualties. The Deputy Commissioner of Harnai confirmed the fatalities and injuries, noting that most victims originated from Swat and Shangla districts.
Authorities quickly secured the explosion site to commence an evidence-collection process to uncover the perpetrators. The Balochistan government has strongly denounced the violent act, with provincial spokesperson Shahid Rand revealing that an intensive investigation is underway. He stated that early findings indicate the explosive was deliberately placed beside the road to target the miners.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also issued a statement condemning the attack and mourning the tragic loss of the workers. This incident follows closely on the heels of another mining tragedy last week in Darra Adam Khel, which resulted in the deaths of two miners from Shangla, further highlighting the ongoing safety challenges faced by labourers in the region.
