India Coal Mine Blast Kills 18 in Meghalaya, Others Feared Trapped
At least 18 people have been killed following an explosion at an illegal coal mine in northeastern India, authorities said on Thursday.
The blast occurred at a remote, unregulated mining site in the East Jainta Hills district of Meghalaya state. Police confirmed that 18 bodies had been recovered from the site, while eight other workers sustained injuries.
Officials said the total number of miners present at the time of the explosion remains unclear, raising concerns that more workers may still be trapped underground.
Rescue operations were suspended at sunset on Thursday due to safety concerns and were expected to resume on Friday with support from state and federal emergency teams, according to local official Manish Kumar.
Kumar described the site as an illegal “rat-hole” mine — a form of mining involving narrow, deep shafts that expose workers to severe safety risks. Rat-hole mining has been banned in Meghalaya since 2014 due to environmental and safety concerns, but illegal operations continue in parts of the state.
District police chief Vikash Kumar said preliminary investigations suggest the explosion may have been triggered by dynamite, though inquiries are ongoing.
Authorities said the victims likely died due to the effects of the blast and toxic fumes released during the explosion. “We do not yet have a clear estimate of how many workers were inside the mine at the time,” Kumar said.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma condemned the incident and vowed that those responsible for the illegal mining operation would be held accountable. He also urged residents to refrain from engaging in unlawful mining activities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of the victims and announced a compensation package of 200,000 rupees (about $2,200) for each bereaved family.
Unregulated coal mining remains common in parts of eastern and northeastern India, where workers often earn as little as $18 to $24 per day despite hazardous conditions. In 2018, at least 15 miners were killed after becoming trapped in a flooded illegal mine in Meghalaya.
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