Shillong: At least sixteen people were killed after a powerful explosion ripped through an illegal coal mine in India’s northeastern state of Meghalaya on Wednesday, officials said, as rescue teams searched for others feared trapped underground.
The blast occurred at a suspected rat hole coal mine in the East Jaintia Hills district, a remote area close to the India Bangladesh border. Police said the explosion took place in the morning while workers were inside the narrow tunnels extracting coal.
Rescue operations were launched soon after the incident, but progress has been slow due to the difficult terrain and dangerous conditions inside the mine. Thick smoke and the possible presence of toxic gases have made it hard for teams to reach deeper sections. At least one injured person was taken to hospital, while authorities said the final death toll could still rise.
State officials said the exact number of workers inside the mine at the time of the explosion was not immediately clear. Heavy equipment and specialised rescue tools have been rushed to the site to support ongoing efforts.
The Meghalaya government ordered a detailed investigation into the incident and said strict action would be taken against those involved in running the illegal mine. Rat hole mining, which involves digging small and unsafe tunnels, has been banned by India’s top court for more than a decade because of serious risks to workers and the environment. Despite the ban, the practice continues in some parts of the region.
India’s prime minister expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and announced financial assistance for the families of those killed. Local authorities said support would also be provided to the injured and to affected families in the surrounding villages.
The blast has once again drawn attention to the dangers of illegal mining in northeastern India, where accidents linked to unsafe coal extraction have claimed many lives over the years.