Illegal Meghalaya coal mine blast kills 18 many injured
The blast is suspected to have happened during coal mining at the site, which authorities believe was being run illegally
Tragic Blast in Illegal Meghalaya Coal Mine Claims 18 Lives, Leaves Families in Agony
Shillong awoke to heartbreaking news on Thursday morning, the kind that shatters a community’s spirit. At least 18 brave laborers lost their lives in a devastating blast at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district. Several more are feared trapped deep underground, their fates hanging by a thread as rescue teams battle treacherous terrain.
The explosion ripped through the Thangsku area on February 5, suspected to have occurred during the perilous work of coal extraction. These weren’t faceless numbers—they were fathers, brothers, and sons, risking everything for a day’s wage in the shadows of banned operations.
Director General of Police I Nongrang shared that rescue teams rushed to the scene, hearts heavy with urgency. But the rugged, hard-to-reach landscape has turned every moment into a grueling fight against time and nature. East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar confirmed 18 bodies recovered so far, his voice steady but eyes betraying the sorrow. “We don’t yet know the exact number inside,” he said, the weight of uncertainty palpable. Families huddle nearby, scanning every update with tear-streaked faces, clinging to faint hopes.
One survivor, pulled from the chaos, was first rushed to Sutnga Primary Health Centre. His pained gasps echoed the desperation as he was airlifted to Shillong for advanced care. In a gesture of compassion, officials announced Rs 50,000 for the injured, a small solace amid unimaginable loss.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s post on X captured the national grief: deeply pained by the mishap, his words a balm for a mourning state. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, voice cracking with emotion, expressed profound sadness. “My thoughts are with the families who’ve lost their loved ones,” he said, vowing the state’s unwavering support. A full inquiry is underway—no stone unturned, accountability fixed, and those responsible facing the full force of law. “Safety of lives is non-negotiable,” he affirmed, his resolve a flicker of light in the darkness.
The SP didn’t mince words: the mine appeared illegal, a stark reminder of Meghalaya’s long shadow of rat-hole mining. Banned by the National Green Tribunal in 2014 for its deadly risks and environmental toll, this barbaric method forces workers into narrow, claustrophobic tunnels—just three to four feet high. Crawling on bellies, they chip away at coal, one person at a time, in “rat holes” devoid of ventilation or safety gear. Floods, cave-ins, and blasts like this are grim realities, claiming lives of the poorest, most vulnerable migrants chasing survival.
The Supreme Court upheld the ban, mandating scientific methods and safeguards, yet illegal operations persist in remote hills, fueled by lax enforcement and desperation. Locals recall the blast’s thunderous roar, smoke billowing like a funeral pyre, panic rippling through villages. Rescue workers tread delicately on unstable soil, heavy machinery humming cautiously, prioritizing lives over speed.
As investigations probe how this mine evaded scrutiny, the tragedy scars East Jaintia Hills. Mothers wail for sons, children ask for fathers who won’t return. It reignites urgent cries to eradicate illegal mining forever—before another family feels this gut-wrenching void. Rescue efforts press on, a testament to human resilience amid heartbreak.