Guwahati: The Assam government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of three labourers from the state who were among those killed in a coal mine blast in Meghalaya‘s East Jaintia Hills district.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said a cabinet minister and the Katigorah legislator have been deputed to visit the families of the deceased and offer assistance.
At least 18 labourers were killed and several others were feared trapped following an explosion at an “illegal” coal mine in the Mynsyngat–Thangsko area of East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday.
Sarma said three of the deceased have been identified as residents of the Katigorah area in Assam’s Barak Valley.
“We have sought details of all victims from Assam. Our chief secretary is in touch with his Meghalaya counterpart,” the chief minister said.
Announcing the ex gratia, Sarma said, “I have requested Katigorah MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha and my colleague minister Kaushik Rai to visit the families of the victims.”
Earlier, in a post on X, Sarma condoled the deaths in the blast. “I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the coal mine accident in East Jaintia Hills. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families during this moment of immense grief,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Meghalaya police has arrested two mine owners in connection with the incident. Besides, search and rescue operations remained underway with multiple teams deployed to recover bodies, locate any possible survivors and secure the affected mine site.
