At least 18 labourers are feared dead, one person has been injured and several others are suspected to be trapped following an explosion at a suspected illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday, police said. The blast occurred in the Thangsku area during the morning hours. East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said authorities are yet to confirm the exact number of workers who were inside the mine at the time of the explosion.
1 Injured Worker Taken To Shillong
One injured worker was initially taken to a nearby primary health centre and later referred to Shillong for specialised treatment. Police have sought assistance from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to carry out rescue and search operations at the site. Officials suspect the explosion occurred during coal mining activities, and preliminary inputs indicate the mine may have been operating illegally. Police said the exact cause of the explosion is yet to be determined and an inquiry will be conducted.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya in 2014 due to environmental damage and safety risks, while also restricting illegal coal transportation. Rat-hole mining involves digging narrow horizontal tunnels, typically 3–4 feet high, forcing workers to crawl inside to extract coal.
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