Meghalaya’s mining woes deepened with a suspicious explosion in an illicit coal pit in East Jaintia Hills’ Thangskhu region, resulting in 16 confirmed fatalities. This is among the most lethal accidents in the state’s troubled coal sector history.
Confirming the casualties, SP Vikas Kumar revealed that rescuers have extracted 16 bodies, but the mission presses on under dire circumstances. Rescue personnel face crumbling ground and imminent collapse risks daily.
The incident unfolded during coal digging, collapsing the tunnel and ensnaring laborers. Cause undetermined yet, but signs implicate active, unregulated mining as the spark.
Fortuitously, one miner escaped with wounds, treated first locally then referred to Shillong, where his health is being vigilantly tracked.
NDRF and SDRF units bolster local efforts, tackling the formidable site together. Kumar hinted at illegality, pending full investigation to pinpoint blame.
Illegal coal extraction thrives defiantly in East Jaintia Hills, evading bans and raids. This catastrophe amplifies calls for ironclad regulations.
With operations unrelenting, further revelations loom, compelling a reevaluation of safety protocols in Meghalaya’s perilous mines.