The death toll from Thursday's coal mine explosion in India's northeastern state of Meghalaya has risen to 27, according to local media reports confirmed by authorities on Saturday. The blast occurred in an illegally operated mine in East Jaintia Hills district, highlighting persistent safety challenges in the region's mining sector.
Rescue teams recovered two additional bodies on Saturday afternoon, with National Disaster Response Force official HPS Kandarian stating, "There might be some other people also trapped down there. We are searching for them." At least nine injured miners remain hospitalized, while authorities investigate the use of banned "rat-hole" mining techniques involving explosives.
The incident has reignited debates about regulatory enforcement in India's mining industry, particularly in Meghalaya where illegal operations persist despite a 2014 ban on primitive mining methods. The state government has launched a comprehensive inquiry into safety violations at the Mynsyngat-Thangsko site, located 70 km east of state capital Shillong.
