Three workers killed in Kohat as soil mound falls during gold extraction

Three workers were killed in a soil mound collapse during illegal gold extraction in the Darra Bokaach area of Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Sunday.

The workers were extracting gold when the soil mound fell, trapping them underneath.

The bodies were recovered and taken to a local hospital.

This incident is not the first of its kind in the area.

In January, eight people were killed in a similar incident in the same tehsil.

The governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, announced the cancellation of all gold mining lease agreements in the province, stating that no one would be allowed to engage in gold mining in the area from now on.

He warned contractors to halt illegal mining and remove their heavy machinery within a week, or face confiscation.

The governor also alleged that 12 politicians from various parties were involved in illegal gold mining, and promised strict enforcement of laws and checking to prevent the illegal transfer of mineral resources.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and district administration have launched a large-scale operation against illegal gold mining mafias in Nowshera and Kohat, and have destroyed heavy machinery used in the illicit activity.

Illegal gold mining has been a longstanding issue in the region, with the governor claiming that 90 kilograms of gold were being extracted every month from the area along the Indus River.