Shillong, Feb 9: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday announced a judicial inquiry into the deadly explosion at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district last week, which claimed 27 lives.

The blast took place at a rat-hole mine in the remote Thangsku area of Mynsngat village. Following the explosion, a multi-day search and rescue operation was conducted involving the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, district administration, and local volunteers, leading to the recovery of all the victims’ bodies.

In a post on X, Sangma said, “The Government has decided to constitute a Judicial Inquiry Commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act to investigate the recent tragic mining incident in Mynsngat-Thangsko area in East Jaintia Hills.”

A senior Home Department official stated that the probe will examine the circumstances of the incident, assign responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Rat-hole mining has been banned in Meghalaya by the National Green Tribunal since 2014 due to environmental concerns. Despite the ban, illegal coal mining continues across the state.