TAXILA: Two men were killed on Wednesday when a mound of soil collapsed while they were searching for placer gold along the banks of the Indus River near Sojhanda village in Attock, local sources reported. The victims, identified as Tariq Khan and Waheed Khan, both residents of Attock district, died on the spot from the impact and suffocation before any rescue operation could be mounted.
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According to preliminary information, the incident occurred at an informal gold search site, where loose soil and rocks gave way suddenly, burying the men under debris. The two were reportedly engaged in unregulated placer gold extraction, a risky practice often carried out without protective equipment or proper safety arrangements.
Local residents and volunteers rushed to the site immediately after the collapse and managed to recover the bodies from the rubble. The local administration was notified, and legal procedures were initiated. Authorities confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway to determine the circumstances that led to the fatal collapse.
Residents of the area expressed deep concern over the safety of workers involved in informal and hazardous mining activities along riverbanks. “These are dangerous practices with no safeguards. Authorities must take strict action to prevent further loss of life,” said a local elder.
Incidents like this have highlighted the need for stricter regulation of informal gold mining along the Indus River, where many labourers operate in perilous conditions with little oversight. Officials have urged workers to exercise caution and adhere to safety protocols, while investigations continue into how such collapses can be prevented in the future.
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The tragic deaths of Tariq Khan and Waheed Khan serve as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by informal gold extraction, underscoring the urgent need for government intervention to protect workers in such high-risk environments.