India coal mine explosion kills 18, others reported missing

At Least 18 Dead in Northeast India Mine Explosion

An explosion occurred at an unregulated coal mine in the East Jainta Hills area of northeast India, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people, according to local authorities. Police have recovered 18 bodies from the blast site, located in a remote part of the district.

Eight others were injured in the incident, and it is unclear how many workers were present at the site during the explosion. Rescuers paused operations on Thursday evening and plan to resume on Friday with support from state and federal personnel.

The mine was described as an “illegal rat-hole mine,” a deep, narrow shaft where workers risk hazardous conditions to extract coal and other minerals. Police believe that dynamite likely triggered the blast, but investigations are ongoing.

District police chief Vikash Kumar stated that it is possible that the workers died from burn injuries or breathing issues due to the release of noxious fumes. However, he noted that there is limited information available about the incident, making it difficult to estimate the number of people who may still be trapped.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has pledged to hold those responsible accountable for the incident and has urged against illegal mining. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased workers and announced a 200,000 rupees ($2,216) compensation package for each family.

The incident highlights concerns about unregulated coal pits in India’s east and northeast regions, where workers often earn low wages for hazardous work. In 2018, at least 15 miners were killed in a similar mine in Meghalaya state. Rat-hole mining has been banned in the region since 2014 due to water pollution concerns.

Source: Al Jazeera