Meghalaya: 16 labourers killed in coal mine blast

In Meghalaya, several labourers were killed in a blast occurred in an illegal coal mine at Thangsku in East Jaintia Hills district. “16 bodies have been recovered so far,” district superintendent of police, Vikash Kumar, said while confirming the incident. Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were on the way to carry out further rescue operations, the SP said. The explosion is suspected to have occurred during coal mining activities at the site, which is believed to be an illegal operation.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a ban on rat-hole coal mining and other unscientific mining practices in Meghalaya in 2014, citing environmental damage and safety risks, while also restricting illegal transportation of coal extracted through such methods. Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed "rat-holes", as each just about fits one person.
Director General of Police I. Nongrang said rescue teams are engaged in search operations at the site in the Thangsku area, where the explosion occurred earlier in the day.Police said the identities of the deceased had not been confirmed as of Thursday evening. Authorities said further details would emerge after the completion of search efforts and the inquiry into the incident.