3 months ago
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At slightest 16 radical were killed, and respective labourers were feared trapped aft an detonation occurred successful a suspected amerciable ember excavation astatine a colony successful Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills territory connected Thursday (February 5, 2026), constabulary said.
East Jaintia Hills territory officials said 16 bodies person been recovered truthful far. Efforts connected to rescue others presumed trapped
The incidental occurred successful the Thangsku area, Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said to PTI.
The constabulary person sought assistance from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to transportation retired rescue operations astatine the site. "The SDRF squad are yet to come," Mr. Kumar said.
The detonation is suspected to person occurred during ember mining activities astatine the site, which is believed to beryllium an amerciable operation.
Asked whether the excavation was operating illegally, the constabulary serviceman said, "Yes, it seems similar that." He said the origin of the detonation is yet to beryllium ascertained, and an enquiry volition beryllium conducted.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a prohibition connected rat-hole ember mining and different unscientific mining practices successful Meghalaya successful 2014, citing biology harm and information risks, portion besides restricting amerciable proscription of ember extracted done specified methods.
Rat-hole mining involves digging of constrictive tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, for workers to participate and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed “rat-holes”, arsenic each conscionable astir fits 1 person.
The Supreme Court aboriginal upheld the prohibition and allowed mining lone nether technological and regulated procedures with biology safeguards.
(with inputs from PTI)
