Shillong: An unusual case of mistaken identity has come to light following the dynamite blast at the Myngsnat-Thangsko coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills, after a man who was declared dead was later found to be alive.
The family of 44-year-old Shyambabu Singha had performed his last rites, believing he had died from injuries sustained in the February 5 explosion.
However, it was later discovered that they had mistakenly taken the body of another victim to their native place in Karimganj, Assam.
After the confusion came to light, the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority issued a ‘corrigendum’ clarifying the situation, Meghalaya Monitor reported.
According to the clarification sent to the Joint Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Shyambabu Singha was reportedly taken to the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) after the blast and was said to have died on February 8. His body was then handed over to his family.
However, on February 12, the district administration received information that Shyambabu Singha was still alive. Upon verification over the phone, it was confirmed that the family had mistakenly claimed the body of another deceased person and had already conducted the funeral rites. The belongings of the deceased, however, remain with Shyambabu’s family.
Shyambabu and his family members have been asked to appear before the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills on February 13.
Earlier, on February 7, two bodies were recovered from the Myngsnat-Thangsko coal mine. Family members were present at the site during the recovery, along with a medical officer.
Officials at Shillong Civil Hospital said a postmortem examination was conducted there, and the family identified the body based on an earring. The body was handed over to them on February 8.
Although the Deputy Commissioner’s earlier statement mentioned that the victim had been taken to NEIGRIHMS, there are no records at the hospital showing that Shyambabu Singha was admitted there. Hospital sources said only one person from Assam, Nishikanta Singha (87), was admitted on January 14, and he died two days later.
Authorities are now investigating the case to determine the identity of the person whose body was mistakenly claimed and cremated by Shyambabu’s family.
ALSO READ: Meghalaya: Death toll in East Jaintia Hills mine blast climbs to 32
Meanwhile, the number of fatalities in the mine explosion at Mynsngat village in the Thangsko region of East Jaintia Hills district has increased to 32 after two critically injured victims undergoing treatment died, district officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The Deputy Commissioner’s office said that coordinated search and rescue operations involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Special Rescue Team, police and district administration were formally wrapped up at 5 pm on February 9.
