Meghalaya: CM declares judicial inquiry into fatal illegal mining incident

Guwahati: Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma on Monday announced the constitution of a judicial inquiry to investigate the fatal explosion at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district last week. Around 27 people died in the explosion.

Sangma posted on X, "The government has decided to constitute a judicial inquiry commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act to investigate the recent tragic mining incident in Mynsngat-Thangsko area in East Jaintia Hills."

Search and rescue operation by National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, police, district administration and local volunteers is still on.


National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a ban on rat-hole coal mining and other unscientific mining practices in Meghalaya in 2014, citing environmental damage and safety risks, while also restricting illegal transportation of coal extracted through such methods.

Rat-hole mining is a primitive method that entails clearing ground vegetation and digging pits ranging from five to 100 square metres to reach the coal seam. Tunnels are made into the seam sideways to extract coal, which is brought into the pit by using a conical basket or a wheelbarrow manually.