Shillong: Meghalaya Police has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the dynamite explosion at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district that killed 31 people on February 5.
The incident took place in the Mynsngat–Thangsko area, prompting swift action by the state police.
“In view of the recent coal mine accident that occurred at Thangsko, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat, and in order to ensure a fair, impartial and expeditious investigation into the circumstances leading to the incident, an SIT has been constituted with immediate effect,” state DGP Idashisha Nongrang said in her order issued on Friday.
The nine-member SIT will be led by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Eastern Range) Vivekanand S Rathore. The team will ascertain the cause of the explosion and conduct a comprehensive investigation. It will also identify violations of court orders and directions of the National Green Tribunal on illegal mining.
Nongrang directed that the probe be carried out in a time-bound manner to ensure justice.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had earlier announced the formation of a judicial inquiry commission to investigate one of the deadliest coal mine accidents in the state.
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Authorities called off search and rescue operations at the blast site on February 9. Assessment teams concluded that there was no further possibility of locating survivors trapped inside the mine.
The blast has once again brought the spotlight on the implementation of restrictions on rat-hole mining and coal transportation in Meghalaya. The National Green Tribunal had imposed a ban on the practice in 2014, citing extensive environmental degradation and grave safety concerns for miners, including inadequate ventilation and the absence of basic structural protections.
