NEW DELHI: At least 18 labourers were killed, and several others feared trapped after an explosion rocked a suspected “illegal coal mine” in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday, Director General of Police I Nongrang said.Rescue teams are carrying out search operations at the site, she said, adding that the blast occurred in the Thangsku area in the morning.“We have recovered 18 bodies so far. The exact number of labourers present inside the mine at the time of the explosion is yet to be ascertained. More people are feared trapped,” she added.Three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed to Meghalaya for rescue operations, officials said. A suo motu case has also been registered, according to ANI.Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the explosion and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the family of the deceased, while the injured would be given Rs 50,000.“Pained by the mishap in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” the Prime Minister’s Office posted on X.“Our team has confirmed that the incident took place this morning, but the number of people inside was not confirmed,” Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar had earlier told PTI.One labourer who was injured in the blast was first taken to the Sutnga Primary Health Centre and later referred to a hospital in Shillong for better treatment, Kumar added.Officials suspect the explosion occurred during coal mining activity at the site, which is believed to have been operating illegally. When asked if the mine was “illegal” Kumar said, “Yes, it seems like that.” He added that the exact cause of the blast is yet to be determined and an inquiry will be conducted.The National Green Tribunal had banned rat-hole coal mining and other unscientific mining practices in Meghalaya in 2014, citing serious environmental damage and safety risks. Rat-hole mining involves digging narrow tunnels, usually 3–4 feet high, through which workers enter to extract coal, often under hazardous conditions.
