A Sukhtbar was severely injured in a fire at a fuel depot, exacerbated by the lack of firefighting resources.
According to Kolbarnews, on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, a fire broke out at a fuel depot in the Hiteh Kargah village of Rask county, resulting in severe burns for a Sukhtbar.
The incident occurred while a Sukhtbari vehicle was loading fuel at the site. The cause of the fire remains unclear.
Reports indicate that the driver attempted to steer the burning vehicle toward a car wash to prevent the fire from spreading. However, due to the car wash’s proximity to a gas station, the driver was forced to drive the vehicle into a ravine. The driver suffered severe burns on his hands and back.
Local sources have pointed out that the absence of a fire station and firefighting equipment in the area has made such incidents a constant threat to the lives of people. Given that Sukhtbari is the primary source of income for many families in the region, the lack of safety infrastructure has increased pressure on local residents.
The community has called for at least one fire station to be established to deal with such emergencies, emphasizing that the lack of resources puts both lives and property at continual risk.
As of this report, no information about the identity of the injured Sukhtbar been released.
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.
