KOHAT: At least seven people were killed and one injured after a mound of soil collapsed during illegal gold extraction in Kohat on Tuesday, rescue officials said.
The incident occurred in the Kamar area of Kohat, near the banks of the Indus River, where locals were engaged in unauthorized gold mining when a heap of loose soil suddenly caved in, burying several people underneath.
Rescue teams rushed to the site and launched an emergency operation. After nearly six hours of continuous efforts, rescuers recovered the bodies of seven victims, while one person was pulled out alive in injured condition. The bodies and the injured were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.
According to rescue officials, all the deceased belonged to the same family. The victims were identified as Talat, Abid, Daniyal, Sabir, Faraz and Faizan, while identification of one victim was underway.
Police from Gambat police station have initiated an investigation into the incident.
Deputy Commissioner Kohat Rahimullah Mehsud confirmed that gold mining is banned in the district, adding that further inquiries are being conducted to determine the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
