East Jaintia Hills: Smoke billows after an explosion at an unlawful coal mine, in East Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Not less than 18 employees had been killed and a number of other others are feared trapped.
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PTI
Not less than 18 miners had been killed in a blast, and a number of other others feared trapped in an unlawful coal mining web site in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday, prompting the federal government to order an investigation, officers stated.
Rescue groups have been engaged in search operations, Director Normal of Police I Nongrang stated, including that the incident occurred within the Thangsku space within the morning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh could be supplied to the following of kin of every deceased, whereas the injured could be given Rs 50,000.
“Pained by the mishap in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Condolences to those that misplaced their family members. Might the injured get well on the earliest,” the Prime Minister’s Workplace (PMO) quoted Modi as saying in a publish on X.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Ok Sangma expressed grief over the incident and introduced a probe.
Throughout rescue operations, a complete of 18 our bodies had been recovered from the positioning, East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar stated.
One one who sustained accidents within the blast was initially taken to Sutnga Main Well being Centre earlier than being referred to a Shillong hospital for higher therapy.
“The precise variety of labourers current contained in the mine on the time of the explosion is but to be ascertained. Extra persons are feared trapped,” the DGP stated.
The explosion occurred at an unlawful coal mine at Mynsyngat within the Thangsku space underneath Umpleng Police Outpost, Kumar stated.
He stated that details about the blast was obtained within the morning, following which senior officers and different workers reached the spot.
Upon verification, it was confirmed that an explosion had taken place contained in the unlawful coal mine and a number of other individuals had been suspected to be trapped, the SP added.
Groups of the Nationwide Catastrophe Response Power (NDRF), State Catastrophe Response Power (SDRF) and a Particular Rescue Workforce (SRT) have been deployed on the web site, and rescue and restoration operations are persevering with, police stated.
A suo motu FIR was registered in reference to the incident at Khliehriat police station underneath numerous sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Mines and Minerals (Growth and Regulation) Act, and the Explosive Substances Act, the SP added.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Ok Sangma additionally expressed condolences and ordered a complete inquiry into the incident.
“Profoundly saddened by the tragic coal mine incident in East Jaintia Hills. My deepest sympathies are with the households who’ve misplaced their family members on this unlucky tragedy,” Sangma stated in a press release.
He stated accountability could be mounted and people accountable would face strict authorized motion, asserting that there could be no compromise in the case of the protection of lives.
The Meghalaya Excessive Court docket additionally took suo motu cognisance of reviews of the incident and directed authorities to take speedy motion towards these concerned in alleged unlawful mining actions, officers stated.
The courtroom directed the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills to establish and arrest the mine house owners and operators and to grab incriminating supplies linked to the unlawful mining.
It additionally summoned the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills to seem in particular person earlier than the courtroom on February 9 with particulars of motion taken within the matter.
The Nationwide Inexperienced Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a ban on rat-hole coal mining and different unscientific mining practices in Meghalaya in 2014, citing environmental harm and security dangers, whereas additionally limiting unlawful transportation of coal extracted by such strategies.
Rat-hole mining entails digging of slim tunnels, normally 3-4 toes excessive, for employees to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are sometimes termed “rat-holes”, as every nearly suits one particular person.
The Supreme Court docket later upheld the ban and allowed mining solely underneath scientific and controlled procedures with environmental safeguards.
Revealed on February 6, 2026
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