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.
| Photograph Credit score:
PTI
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 offered 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. Could the injured get well on the earliest,” the Prime Minister’s Workplace (PMO) quoted Modi as saying in a submit on X.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Okay Sangma expressed grief over the incident and introduced a probe.
Throughout rescue operations, a complete of 18 our bodies had been recovered from the location, East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar stated.
One one who sustained accidents within the blast was initially taken to Sutnga Major Well being Centre earlier than being referred to a Shillong hospital for higher remedy.
“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 below Umpleng Police Outpost, Kumar stated.
He stated that details about the blast was obtained within the morning, following which senior officers and different employees 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 Pressure (NDRF), State Catastrophe Response Pressure (SDRF) and a Particular Rescue Staff (SRT) have been deployed on the website, 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 below 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 Okay 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 relating to the protection of lives.
The Meghalaya Excessive Court docket additionally took suo motu cognisance of experiences of the incident and directed authorities to take instant 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 determine 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 look in individual 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 injury and security dangers, whereas additionally proscribing unlawful transportation of coal extracted by such strategies.
Rat-hole mining includes 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 individual.
The Supreme Court docket later upheld the ban and allowed mining solely below scientific and controlled procedures with environmental safeguards.
Printed on February 6, 2026
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