Meghalaya coal mine explosion LIVE: At least 18 people dead; several feared trapped
Grief gripped the remote Thangsku district in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district as women wailed and villagers gathered near the illegal coal mine blast site.
Officials said that the explosion occurred in the Thangsko area of Mynsngat village, about 30 kilometers from Khliehriat district center.
Villagers said scenes of chaos ensued soon after the explosion, with women and children working in nearby makeshift shacks crying inconsolably as rescue teams rushed to the scene.
In the videos that appeared on social media, thick smoke was seen coming out of what local people claimed were three mines shortly after the explosion.
Local elders in Mynsyngat told PTI He stated that they feared that more than 30-40 people would be trapped inside during the explosion.
Thangsku is a remote, forested area with hundreds of illegal coal mine shafts. Locals said rescue efforts slowed down after sunset due to difficult terrain and safety concerns.
Residents said most of those working in the mines were daily wage laborers coming from Assam and Nepal as well as different parts of the state.
Relatives and villagers had gathered near the site, anxiously awaiting developments as rescue and rescue operations progressed.
Anti-mining activist Agnes Kharshiing blamed the government and district authorities for the tragedy, claiming that illegal coal mining continued despite repeated warnings and previous accidents.
“This is murder,” he said PTIHe added that the accident was evidence of what he described as attempts by the State government to hide the reality of ongoing illegal mining.
Ms. Kharshiing was once attacked by coal mafias, which left her injured and under treatment for a long time.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident and investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for the alleged illegal mining activities.
– PTI
