Shillong, February 5: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic blast at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district that killed at least 18 people and seriously injured another, calling it a “heartbreaking loss” and assuring full support to the affected families.
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| Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma |
In a series of social media posts, Sangma said the State stands in solidarity with those who have lost loved ones in the dynamite explosion at the remote Mynsyngat–Thangsko mining site on Thursday, where four bodies were recovered and one injured person with severe burns was airlifted to Shillong for treatment.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this unfortunate tragedy,” the Chief Minister wrote. He announced that the Government of Meghalaya has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident, vowing that accountability will be fixed and that those responsible will face strict legal action.
The blast has reignited longstanding concerns over unsafe and illegal coal mining practices in the region, particularly in the coal belt of East Jaintia Hills where such operations are often conducted without regulatory oversight or safety protocols.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also expressed sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the bereaved families. In a social media post, Sarma said the Assam government is in close coordination with the Meghalaya government and the East Jaintia Hills district administration.
“There are unconfirmed reports that some of the victims may be from Assam. If this is established, we will extend all possible assistance and support to the affected families from Assam,” Sarma said, adding that Assam stands with all those affected in this hour of grief.
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Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force and Fire and Emergency Services have been engaged in ongoing rescue and recovery efforts at the site, amid fears that additional miners may be trapped after portions of the hill collapsed following the explosion.
Officials have yet to confirm the identities of the deceased, though unverified reports suggest some victims may be migrant workers from neighbouring states.
The deadly incident once again highlights the grave dangers associated with illegal mining and the urgent need for stronger enforcement of safety and environmental standards in Meghalaya’s coal mining belt.
