Shillong: The death toll in the dynamite blast at a suspected illegal coal mining site in the Thangsko area of Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district has risen to 16 following the recovery of more bodies on Thursday, police said.
The explosion occurred in the morning hours.
While several bodies were recovered during the day, officials said more people are feared to be trapped inside the mine.
Rescue operations were suspended due to darkness and are scheduled to resume on Friday with the assistance of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), which had not reached the site at the time of filing this report.
Earlier in the afternoon, Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar confirmed the incident and said a police team was immediately dispatched to the spot to assess the situation and determine the cause of the explosion.
Profoundly saddened by the tragic coal mine incident in East Jaintia Hills. My deepest sympathies are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this unfortunate tragedy.
The Government of Meghalaya has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. Accountability…
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) February 5, 2026
He added that one injured person has been shifted to Shillong for advanced medical treatment.
“Preliminary information indicates multiple fatalities and one critically injured person. Our team is on the ground, and a case will be registered once we receive detailed inputs,” Kumar told Northeast News.
Officials said the blast is believed to have taken place earlier in the day, though the exact cause and full extent of the tragedy are yet to be established.
Further details are expected as rescue operations resume and the police complete their preliminary assessment.
