A catastrophic cave-in at an illicit coal mine in Meghalaya’s Thangskho village has resulted in 18 confirmed fatalities, as stated by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. The Thursday announcement came as rescue teams persist in their desperate search for survivors in the East Jaintia Hills disaster site.
Triggered by a dynamite detonation around midday during extraction work, the collapse entombed multiple miners. Sangma, in a press briefing, outlined the government’s swift measures: two ministers dispatched for site inspection, coupled with his personal vigilance over developments.
The area’s isolation—three hours from Khliehriat headquarters—exacerbates the operation’s difficulties, compounded by precarious geology and security threats. Coordinated by the police-overseeing Deputy CM, forces like SDRF and NDRF are on the frontlines, battling odds to retrieve remains and potential survivors.
An inquiry into the mishap is in motion, with Sangma vowing comprehensive accountability. ‘Human life protection admits no leniency; culprits will face the law’s full force,’ he affirmed. This tragedy spotlights the recurrent perils of illegal mining in Meghalaya, urging systemic reforms for worker safety.