At least 18 laborers have lost their lives after a massive explosion in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya. The tragic incident took place on Thursday morning in the Thangskai area of East Jaintia Hills district. Rescue teams have recovered 18 bodies from the site so far, while one injured person has been sent to a hospital in Shillong. Authorities fear that more workers might still be trapped inside the mine, as the exact number of people working at the time is not yet known.
What financial aid has been announced for the victims?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the incident and announced financial assistance for the affected families. An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh will be given to the families of the deceased from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). The injured victims will receive ₹50,000 each.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has also announced state-level compensation. The state government will provide ₹3 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased laborer. The Chief Minister has ordered a strict investigation into the matter to catch the people responsible for running this illegal operation.
What action is the High Court taking?
The Meghalaya High Court has taken serious note of the tragedy on its own. The court has directed the police to immediately identify and arrest the mine owners and operators involved in this illegal extraction. The Superintendent of Police, Vikas Kumar, stated that the explosion likely happened during illegal mining activities.
The High Court has summoned the District Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police to appear personally on February 9. This incident has occurred despite a ban on unregulated rat-hole mining in the state by the National Green Tribunal since 2014.