Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday spoke to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to review the situation following a deadly explosion at a suspected illegal coal mine in the state’s East Jaintia Hills district, which has claimed at least 18 lives.
According to media, Shah assured the chief minister of full Central assistance for ongoing rescue and relief operations.
The explosion occurred earlier in the day at an “illegal” coal mine in the Thangsku area of East Jaintia Hills. Officials fear that several labourers may still be trapped inside the mine, raising concerns that the death toll could rise further.
Rescue Operations Underway
Rescue teams were immediately deployed to the site and search operations are continuing, Meghalaya Director General of Police I Nongrang said. Authorities are focusing on locating survivors and recovering those trapped underground.
East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar told PTI that 18 bodies had been recovered during the rescue operation. One injured worker was initially taken to the Sutnga Primary Health Centre and was later referred to a hospital in Shillong for advanced medical care.
Police officials said the exact number of workers present inside the mine at the time of the blast is yet to be confirmed. Preliminary findings suggest that the explosion took place during illegal coal mining activity.
PM Announces Ex-Gratia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced financial assistance for the victims’ families. In a post shared by the Prime Minister’s Office on X, he said:
“Pained by the mishap in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given ₹50,000.”
State Orders Probe, Vows Action
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced a comprehensive probe into the explosion. He said accountability would be fixed and strict legal action would be taken against those responsible.
The state government reiterated that there would be no compromise on safety standards and said it stands in solidarity with the families affected by the tragedy.
Background: Ban on Rat-Hole Mining
Illegal coal mining has long been a concern in Meghalaya. In 2014, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole coal mining and other unscientific mining practices in the state, citing severe environmental damage and serious safety risks. The tribunal also restricted illegal transportation of coal.
Rat-hole mining involves digging narrow tunnels, typically three to four feet high, through which a single worker extracts coal by crawling through horizontal passages — a method widely regarded as dangerous.
The Supreme Court later upheld the ban and allowed coal mining only under scientific and regulated procedures, subject to strict environmental safeguards.