Guwahati: The death toll from a devastating explosion at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district has risen to 25, police said on Friday. The blast occurred on Thursday in the remote Sutnga area, which has long been notorious for unlawful coal mining activities.
Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar confirmed that rescue operations were still ongoing and continued through Saturday. He warned that the number of fatalities could increase, as authorities are yet to determine how many workers were inside the underground section of the mine at the time of the explosion.
According to local sources, nearly 70 to 100 people may have entered the underground tunnels on the day of the incident. Coal was reportedly being extracted through rat-hole mining, a hazardous and illegal method that has been banned by India’s Supreme Court due to safety and environmental concerns.
Police said four additional bodies were recovered by Friday evening, while one injured worker succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Shillong. Two others also died later due to severe injuries, taking the total death toll to 25.
By Friday evening, authorities had identified 17 of the victims. After completing legal formalities, the identified bodies were handed over to their families.
In connection with the incident, the Meghalaya Police registered a suo motu case at the Khliehriat Police Station in East Jaintia Hills district. The case (No. 14/2026) has been filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, and the Explosive Substances Act.
Police have arrested two individuals allegedly linked to the illegal mining operation. The accused have been identified as Pharme Chermang (36) of Jalaphet and Shamehi War (42) of Sutnga Pahwaitang. Both have been remanded to police custody for three days.
Authorities stated that investigations are ongoing and efforts are underway to identify and arrest other individuals involved in illegal coal mining activities in the region.
The remote areas of Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills have repeatedly come under scrutiny for unsafe and unlawful mining practices, despite repeated bans and enforcement drives.