Blast caused by dynamite inside an illegal rat-hole mine in East Jaintia Hills; dozens feared trapped
Meghalaya, India —
At least 18 workers have been killed in an explosion at an illegal coal mine in the East Jaintia Hills district of India’s northeastern state of Meghalaya on Thursday. Among the deceased are two Nepali brothers from Khotang district, according to police sources.
Police said the explosion was caused by the use of dynamite inside the mine, which led to the release of toxic gases and the collapse of underground tunnels. Rescue teams have so far recovered 18 bodies from the site, while eight workers have been injured.
Local residents fear that between 30 and 40 workers may still be trapped inside the mine. Rescue operations are ongoing amid difficult conditions.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced financial assistance of INR 200,000 for the families of the deceased and INR 50,000 for those injured. The Meghalaya state government has also declared additional compensation of INR 300,000 for each deceased worker’s family.
Rat-hole coal mining has been officially banned in Meghalaya since 2014 due to safety and environmental concerns. However, despite the ban, many workers continue to risk their lives in such mines because of relatively high wages. Nepali and Assamese nationals are among those commonly employed in these hazardous operations.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident and the illegal mining activities in the area.