Shillong, February 6: At least six workers from Assam were among the 19 people killed in a devastating coal mine explosion in Meghalaya, while eight others sustained second-degree burn injuries, officials confirmed on Friday.
The blast, suspected to have been triggered by a dynamite explosion, occurred on February 5 inside an illegal coal mine at Mynsyngat village in the Thangsko area of Elaka Sutnga under the Saipung C&RD Block in East Jaintia Hills district. Search and rescue operations formally began at 9:55 am on February 6.
According to Cachar Deputy Commissioner Aayush Garg, six of the deceased have been identified as residents of Assam’s Cachar district. The victims include two brothers—Anwar Hussain and Dilwar Hussain of Sarishakuri village - along with Purunjay Vaishnav, Nikunj Vaishnav, Faruk Ahmed and Krishna Vaishnav. All were reportedly working inside the mine at the time of the explosion.
Five injured labourers from Cachar have been admitted to Silchar Medical College and Hospital, where two are undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit. Hospital authorities said their condition remains critical.
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Meanwhile, eight other injured workers suffering second-degree burn injuries were admitted to hospitals in Shillong. Seven are being treated at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), while one has been admitted to Nazareth Hospital.
A massive multi-agency rescue and relief operation is underway, involving teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Special Rescue Team (SRT) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Medical teams, ambulances, and security personnel have been deployed, with the Army and Air Force kept on standby.
Senior administrative and disaster management officials are closely monitoring the situation, while the Cachar district administration has assured full administrative and humanitarian assistance to the affected families.
Investigations into the cause of the explosion are currently underway.
