MOHMAND: At least 19 workers died on Tuesday as a marble mine collapsed in Mohmand district. More deaths are feared as miners are still stuck and rescue operation is underway.

District Police Officer Tariq Habib said that the incident of caving in of marble mines took place in Tehsil Safi of Ziarat area. He apprised that dead bodies of 19 labourers were recovered, while six others were injured who were right away shifted to a hospital. The deceased belonged to Mohmand, Khyber and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Teams of Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, police and rescue department are busy in relief and rescue activities at the site of the incident.

Also Read: Malaysia bans entry of Pakistani people on its soil

Tariq Habib said there was huge debris and they did not have heavy machinery which made the rescue operation unmanageable.

Deputy Commissioner Iftikhar Alam said that more deaths were feared in the incident and they had sought heavy machinery from the provincial disaster management authority.

Rescue authorities said that additional rescue teams had arrived from Peshawar and Charsadda and they were participating in the search and rescue operation with the help of tools, search lights, heavy machinery and ambulances.

During the operation, the land sliding also took place, but rescue officials remained safe from any damage.