Shillong: Rescue efforts at the Thangsko mine explosion site in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district are underway, with no additional survivors found and the death toll remaining at 27.
In a coordinated crackdown, authorities seized 300.7 tonnes of illegal coal, along with mining tools and 204 gelatin sticks on Monday. This brings the total amount of coal confiscated since the explosion to roughly 7,000 tonnes.
Rescue and recovery operations continued today with teams from the State and National Disaster Response Forces (SDRF and NDRF), Special Rescue Team (SRT), police and district administration. The affected mine sites were thoroughly searched and operations will resume tomorrow morning to ensure complete coverage, an update from the EJH Deputy Commissioner informed this evening.
Also Read: Manipur: 7 insurgents arrested, arms and IEDs recovered in joint operations
As per reports, five teams of Executive Magistrates, police and officials from the Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR) have been deployed to clamp down on illegal mining in the district.
According to a report in the Highland Post, during the today’s drive, 38 tonnes of coal were seized from two locations under Lumnongthymme, 87 tonnes from one location under Lumbangla and 175.7 tonnes from two locations under Rangad along with tools and one box of suspected gelatin sticks (204 numbers).
It may be mentioned that, 27 people died in the blast and fewer than ten injured individuals continue to receive treatment in hospitals. However, authorities fear that several others may still be unaccounted for.
The Meghalaya government has decided to constitute a Judicial Inquiry Commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act to investigate the recent mining tragedy.
Taking to X, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, “The Government has decided to constitute a Judicial Inquiry Commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act to investigate the recent tragic mining incident in Mynsngat – Thangsko area in East Jaintia Hill.”
