Following a fire at an informal fuel storage site (known locally as a mandi) in Jakigour, two Baloch Sukhtbars were injured due to intense heat and the rapid spread of flames.
According to Kolbarnews, on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, a fire broke out at a mandi in the Jakigour area of Sistan and Baluchestan province during a fuel unloading operation. The fire was reportedly triggered by extreme heat, which caused the flames to spread quickly.
One of the injured Sukhtbars has been identified as Moaz Malek Raeisi, son of AbdolSattar, from Jakigour in Rask County. He sustained burns to his hand and face, though his condition is reported to be stable.
The identity of the second injured Sukhtbar believed to be the driver of a Nissan pickup truck is currently unknown. He suffered burns to his left leg.
It’s important to note that mandis are unofficial fuel depots, which, in the absence of proper economic infrastructure and amidst widespread unemployment, have become a vital albeit dangerous source of income for many in Balochistan.
Sukhtbari considered one of the unconventional and dangerous occupations that many Baloch people in Balochistan are forced to engage in due to the lack of suitable and stable employment opportunities. Accidents, vehicle overturns, and direct shootings by military and security forces are some of the dangers that threaten the lives of Sukhtbars. According to reports by Baloch activists, in 2024, at least 240 Baloch Sukhtbars lost their lives due to shootings by military forces, traffic accidents, and vehicle fires, while 135 others were injured in these incidents, 19 of whom were children.
