Shillong, Feb 5: One labourer was injured and several others are feared trapped following an explosion in a suspected illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday, police said.
The blast occurred this morning in the Thangsku area, Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar told PTI. “Our team has confirmed the incident, but the number of people inside the mine remains unconfirmed,” he said.
The injured labourer was initially treated at a primary health centre and later referred to Shillong for advanced care. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been called in for rescue operations, though the team had not yet reached the site.
Authorities suspect the explosion occurred during illegal coal mining. “Yes, it seems like an illegal operation,” Kumar confirmed. The exact cause of the blast is under investigation.
Rat-hole mining, involving narrow 3-4 foot tunnels allowing only one worker at a time, was banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2014 due to environmental and safety hazards. The Supreme Court upheld the ban, permitting mining only through regulated and environmentally safe methods.
