Two workers were killed after a landslide occurred during alleged illegal blasting and stone-crushing operations on Salargah Hill in the Taxila area of Rawalpindi. Illegal blasting and stone-crushing activities are reportedly continuing in the Margalla Hills and surrounding areas, raising concerns over safety and environmental violations.
According to police, the owner of the crushing machine and his secretary allegedly left the scene with the bodies of the two workers. A case has been registered against them under murder and explosives laws.
Police said the case was registered by the state on the complaint of Police Sub-Inspector Qaiser Abbas. According to the complaint, the officer was on duty when he received a call through the emergency helpline 15 reporting that blasting was being carried out for Javed Irshad’s crushing machine on Salargah Hill. Police reached the site and, during an initial investigation, found that the owner of the crushing machine, Javed Irshad, and his secretary, Munir Khan, were allegedly carrying out blasting operations.
The blasting reportedly caused part of the hill to collapse, resulting in the deaths of two workers, identified as Zahid and Saddam. According to the FIR, Javed Irshad and Munir Khan allegedly carried out the illegal blasting that led to the deaths of the two workers. The two men then allegedly took the bodies from the site to an undisclosed location. Police registered a case against both suspects, and further investigation is underway.