SHILLONG: In a major man-made disaster, at least 16 labourers were killed in a dynamite explosion in an “illegal” coal mine in the remote Thangsku area of East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday. Many more are feared “trapped” inside the pit.Three of the deceased identified so far are Faruk Ahmed of Bihara village under Katigora, Assam and Dildar Hussain and Anwora Hussain, both residents of Sharisha Kuri village in Assam.
PM Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the the mishap and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.According to a PTI report, DGP I Nongrang has confirmed recovery of 16 bodies so far. “The exact number of labourers present inside the mine at the time of the explosion is yet to be ascertained. More people are feared trapped,” she said.One injured worker was first taken to the Sutnga Primary Health Centre before being referred to a Shillong hospital for advanced treatment.The blast is suspected to have occurred during coal mining activities at the site, which officials believe was operating illegally. According to a PTI report, East Jaintia Hills SP Vikash Kumar said the cause of the explosion is yet to be determined and an inquiry will be conducted.The Government of Meghalaya has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident with CM Conrad K Sangma asserting that accountability would be fixed, and those responsible would face strict legal action.“There will be no compromise when it comes to the safety of lives. In this moment of sorrow, the state stands in solidarity with all those affected,” he said.“Profoundly saddened by the tragic coal mine incident in East Jaintia Hills. My deepest sympathies are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this unfortunate tragedy,” the CM wrote in his social media handle.Several labourers, including from neighbouring Assam, are suspected to be trapped inside the illegal and unscientific rat-hole coal mine.“Our team has confirmed that the incident took place this morning, but the numbers are not confirmed,” the SP said.One person was injured in the blast and had been referred to Shillong for treatment from Sutnga Primary Health Centre, the SP said.Police said all the victims had been working as labourers at the mine when the incident happened.The State Disaster Response Force and police have begun rescue operations to try and locate any living person inside the illegal mine.Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has expressed his grief over the death of the persons in the coal mine and said his govt was in close coordination with the Meghalaya govt and the East Jaintia Hills administration. He said the govt has announced Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the dead from Assam.Coal mining in Meghalaya has long been fraught with controversy. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a ban on rat-hole mining and other unscientific practices in 2014, citing severe environmental damage and safety risks, while also restricting illegal coal transportation. Rat-hole mining involves digging narrow tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, through which workers crawl to extract coal — earning the name “rat-holes.”
