Meghalaya coal mine blast kills 16 in East Jaintia Hills, several feared trapped
PTC Web Desk: At least 16 labourers lost their lives after a powerful explosion ripped through an allegedly illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday, police officials said.
Meghalaya Director General of Police I Nongrang confirmed that rescue teams are continuing search and recovery operations at the site, located in the Thangsku area. Authorities fear that more workers may still be trapped inside the mine, as the exact number of labourers present at the time of the incident remains unclear.
“So far, 16 bodies have been recovered. We are yet to ascertain how many workers were inside the mine when the explosion occurred. There is a strong possibility that others are still trapped,” Nongrang said.
East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said one injured worker was initially rushed to the Sutnga Primary Health Centre and later referred to a hospital in Shillong due to the severity of injuries.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the blast occurred during coal extraction activities. Officials indicated that the mine appeared to be operating illegally. “Yes, it seems like an illegal operation,” SP Kumar said when asked about the mine’s status.
The exact cause of the explosion is yet to be determined, and a detailed inquiry has been ordered to establish the circumstances that led to the tragedy.
Coal mining in Meghalaya, particularly through rat-hole mining, has long been under scrutiny due to serious safety and environmental concerns. In 2014, the National Green Tribunal imposed a blanket ban on rat-hole mining and other unscientific mining practices in the state, citing widespread ecological damage and frequent fatal accidents. The ban also restricted the illegal transportation of coal extracted through such methods.
Rat-hole mining involves digging extremely narrow tunnels, often just three to four feet high, forcing workers to crawl inside to extract coal. These unsafe horizontal passages, commonly referred to as “rat-holes,” are notorious for poor ventilation, flooding risks, and sudden cave-ins.
The Supreme Court later upheld the NGT ban, permitting coal mining in Meghalaya only through scientific and regulated methods with mandatory environmental safeguards. Despite this, illegal mining operations have continued to surface, often with deadly consequences.
- With inputs from agencies
