Meghalaya mine blast toll rises to 25 as two arrested in illegal coal tragedy
Meghalaya mine blast toll rises to 25 as two arrested in illegal coal tragedy
Rescue teams race against time as Meghalaya's illegal coal mine blast toll climbs to 25; two suspects arrested as investigators probe rat-hole mining.
Shillong is grappling with a grim disaster after an explosion at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaiñtia Hills raised the death toll to 25, with seven more bodies recovered in the latest search. Rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, and a special rescue unit, are working at the Mynsyngat–Thangskai area under the Umpleng police outpost to locate missing victims and identify the deceased. The toll update came as authorities intensified their search and coordination efforts across the site, with families gathering nearby as bodies were brought to nearby hospitals or claimed by relatives.
Police have arrested two people in connection with the incident as investigators widen their probe into the dangerous practice of rat-hole mining, officially banned for more than a decade. A suo motu FIR has been registered at Khliehriat police station under relevant sections of the law governing mining and explosives, signaling a broader inquiry into who was operating the mine and how the blast occurred inside this unauthorised facility.
Officials stressed the broader issue of rat-hole mining, a hazardous method that involves digging narrow horizontal tunnels to reach coal, often in illegal and unregulated sites. The tragedy has reignited public anger over such practices and the peril they pose to workers and nearby communities. As the search continues for any remaining victims and the identification process moves forward, authorities vow stringent action against those responsible and a thorough review of mining safety and enforcement in the region.
With the investigation ongoing, frontline responders and local authorities are urging calm, cooperation from families, and steadfast support for the rescue operation to bring closure to those affected by this devastating event.
