Shillong: At least four people were killed and one sustained serious injuries in a blast at an alleged illegal coal mining site at Thangsko, East Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya on Thursday morning, police said.
Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar confirmed the incident and said a police team has been rushed to the spot to assess the situation and ascertain the circumstances that led to the explosion.
The injured person has been referred to Shillong for advanced medical treatment, he added.
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“Preliminary information suggests that four people have died and one has been critically injured. Our team is at the site, and once we receive detailed inputs, a case will be registered,” the SP told Northeast News.
Officials said the blast is believed to have occurred earlier in the day, but the exact cause and full extent of the incident are yet to be established.
Authorities are awaiting a detailed ground report from the police team, after which further details are expected to emerge.
Police are coordinating with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to begin rescue operations, though the team is yet to reach the site, Kumar said.
