Death toll from marble mine rockslide in Pakistan rises to 19

Kathmandu. The death toll from the rockslide incident at a marble mine, which took place on Monday in Pakistan’s northwest tribal district of Mohmand, climbed to 19, police and local media said on Tuesday.

The death toll surged after rescuers pulled out bodies of eight more laborers from under the rubble, said police officials, adding that at least nine others also sustained minor to serious injuries in the incident.

Police said several more people were feared to be trapped under the debris as rescue teams and local administration were carrying out rescue operations.

Pakistani army troops were also assisting district administration in rescue and relief activities, and nearby cities and districts have dispatched additional rescue personnel and heavy machinery to fast-track the rescue operations.

Iftikhar Alam, deputy commissioner of Mohmand district, told local media that huge pieces of marble from a hill fell on miners working on the foothill of a marble mine located at Ziarat Ghar mountain in Safi tehsil area of Mohmand district.

Several vehicles parked nearby the incident site were also destroyed, said the police.