Meghalaya’s coal mining woes have claimed another 18 lives in East Jaintia Hills, where a dynamite blast triggered the collapse of an illegal mine in Thangskho. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma broke the news on Thursday, highlighting the ongoing battle to save trapped miners in this perilous region.
Eyewitness accounts point to the explosion occurring at approximately 11:30 AM amid routine operations, instantly burying workers under rubble. The remote location, a three-hour drive from Khliehriat, has intensified the rescue challenges, with rugged terrain and structural instability hampering progress.
Sangma, addressing the media, revealed that two cabinet ministers have been rushed to oversee relief coordination, while he maintains direct oversight alongside district officials. The Deputy CM, handling the Home portfolio, is spearheading administrative synergy for the operation.
Multi-agency teams including SDRF and NDRF personnel are deployed, navigating treacherous conditions to comb through the debris. Parallel to rescue, a high-level probe is underway to unravel the circumstances and ensure culpability.
‘We treat this with utmost seriousness; no compromise on human lives,’ Sangma declared, underscoring the state’s resolve for stringent penalties. This incident reignites calls for stringent regulations in Meghalaya’s unregulated mining landscape, where safety often takes a backseat to profit.
