SHILLONG, India — Local authorities in the East Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya have confirmed at least 18 fatalities following an explosion at a coal mining site on Thursday. The incident occurred at approximately 11:00 local time (05:30 GMT) in a forested area roughly 72km from the state capital. According to Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar, 18 bodies have been recovered to date. One survivor remains hospitalized in Shillong with severe burn injuries. While rescue operations are ongoing, officials have not yet confirmed the total number of individuals who may remain trapped underground. Investigative Details Preliminary police reports suggest the blast was caused by dynamite used during “rat-hole” mining operations. This technique involves excavating narrow, horizontal tunnels to extract coal. Official Response: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma stated that “accountability will be fixed” following a legal investigation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex-gratia payments of 200,000 rupees ($2,215) for the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for the injured. Legal Status: Although a blanket ban on rat-hole mining exists in the region, local activists report that the practice persists. Accountability: Police have registered a case against unidentified individuals, as the owners and operators of the site have not yet been named. Post navigation Analyzing Major Global News Events Impacting International Policymaking Today
