Shillong: At least 18 people were killed and several others are feared trapped after an allegedly illegal coal mine explosion in Mynsyngat, Thangsko area of East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya on Thursday morning.
According to East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar, police and disaster management teams were immediately rushed to the site. Preliminary reports suggest the blast was caused by a high-intensity dynamite explosion used for mining activities. The explosion triggered the collapse of adjoining mine shafts, trapping workers deep underground, NewsOnAir reported.
Local sources said the impact caused nearby quarry structures to crumble instantly, hampering rescue operations. One critically injured survivor was initially taken to Sutnga Primary Health Centre and later referred to Shillong for advanced medical treatment.
A suo-motu FIR has been registered at Khliehriat Police Station (Case No. 14/2026) under Sections 105, 118(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with Sections 21 and 21(1) of the MMDR Act and Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act. Investigation is ongoing.
The blast occurred around 11 am in a ‘rat-hole’ mine—so named because the tunnels are just large enough for workers to crawl through, Deputy Commissioner of Police Manish Kumar told Reuters.
Rat-hole mining was banned by the National Green Tribunal in 2014 due to frequent loss of life, severe environmental damage, and threats to flora and fauna. Responding to questions on the practice in December 2025, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had stated that for nearly 200 years prior to the ban, rat-hole mining supported lakhs of families across the state, making it difficult for those involved to abandon the activity.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the next of kin of each deceased, while the injured would receive ₹50,000.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma also expressed profound grief over the tragedy and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He assured that accountability would be fixed and that those responsible would face strict legal action. He further stated that the Meghalaya government has ordered a thorough inquiry and emphasised that there would be no compromise on the safety of human lives, adding that the State stands in solidarity with the affected families.
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