SHILLONG, Meghalaya — At least 16 laborers were killed after a powerful explosion ripped through a suspected illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district, making it one of the deadliest mining accidents in the state in recent years, police officials said Thursday.
The bodies were recovered from a mine in the Thangsku area, where a blast believed to have occurred during active coal mining triggered a collapse, trapping workers underground. Rescue teams continue to search the site amid hazardous conditions.
East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar confirmed the death toll, saying 16 bodies had been retrieved so far. He said rescue and recovery operations remain ongoing.
“Sixteen bodies have been recovered so far,” Kumar said, adding that authorities are continuing to search the area.
One worker survived the incident but sustained injuries. He was initially taken to the Sutnga Primary Health Centre and later shifted to Shillong for advanced medical care. Police said his condition is being closely monitored.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed to assist local police and district officials. The operation is being carried out under difficult conditions due to unstable terrain and the risk of further cave-ins.
While the exact cause of the explosion has not yet been determined, officials said preliminary indications suggest it occurred during mining activity inside the shaft.
Asked whether the mine was operating illegally, Kumar said early findings point in that direction but emphasized that a full investigation is required.
“Yes, it seems like that,” he said. “This is a matter of inquiry and investigation. Responsibility will be fixed once the probe is completed.”
The incident has once again drawn attention to the ongoing problem of illegal coal mining in East Jaintia Hills, where unsafe extraction methods have persisted despite court bans and repeated enforcement efforts.
Authorities said more details are expected to emerge as rescue operations conclude and the investigation moves forward. (Source: IANS)
