Meghalaya

Several sitting MDCs and former MLAs have expressed interest in contesting the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) polls on BJP ticket, party leader AL Hek said on Monday. Speaking to reporters, Hek stated that the BJP is actively preparing for the polls, asserting that the party remains active year-round rather than only during election cycles. "The BJP works 365 days a year to strengthen the organisation. We are not like students who study only when exams are near," the former minister said. He added that while groundwork has begun, the party has yet to decide on the total number of candidates it will field. The BJP is currently awaiting applications from aspirants, though Hek noted that a few candidates have already been identified. Hek further revealed that d...

To strengthen preparedness and response mechanisms against natural disasters, especially earthquakes, the Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority (MSDMA), District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), and the Revenue & Disaster Management Department, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), conducted a State Level Mock Drill Exercise on Earthquake Disaster on Monday at two locations in Ri Bhoi District. The mock drill was first conducted at Shillong Airport, Umroi and later at M/s Umiam Distillation Pvt. Limited, EPIP, Byrnihat. As per the exercise scenario, a major earthquake measuring 8.2 magnitude struck Shillong, which also affected the two locations in Ri Bhoi District. The drill simulated situations involving injured civilians requiring ...

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday expressed serious concern over what it described as a "distressing" failure of authorities to curb rampant illegal rat-hole coal mining in East Jaintia Hills district that claimed 27, officials said. The HC bench of Judges HS Thangkhiew and W Diengdoh also warned that accountability would be fixed and an independent or central agency probe could be ordered if required.The observations came as Deputy Commissioner Manish Kumar and Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar of East Jaintia Hills appeared in connection with the February 5 blast at an illegal coal mine in Thangsku area of Mynsngat village, 130 km east of here.. A division bench of Justices H S Thangkhiew and W Diengdoh warned that accountability would be fixed and that the court could order a p...

East Jaintia Hills Police on Monday stated that search and rescue operations are continuing in connection with the illegal coal mining blast that occurred on February 5, even as the matter is presently under consideration of the High Court.Speaking to mediapersons, Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said the High Court has taken cognisance of the incident and summoned the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) of East Jaintia Hills for personal appearance.The SP said that the police are proceeding in accordance with the law and assured that the investigation is moving forward steadily.“The investigation is ongoing. Arrests have been made and the case is progressing in the right direction. We are confident of bringing it to a logical conclusion,” he said.Addressing c...

What began as a visit to inspect a deadly accident site turned into a chilling exposé of rampant illegal coal mining across East Jaintia Hills, as BP Katakey, Head of the High Court–appointed Committee, narrated his first-hand account of the tragedy and what he described as a complete administrative blind spot. Katakey said he left for Thangskovillage early on the morning of February 6, immediately after reports of the illegal coal mine accident surfaced. “I reached around 11.45 in the morning and proceeded to the accident site by about 1 pm,” he said. What awaited him, however, was far more disturbing than the incident itself. “Not only at the accident site, but on both sides of the road leading to it, illegal coal mining activities were going on everywhere,” Katakey stated. Passing thro...

The Meghalaya government has decided to set up a Judicial Inquiry Commission to investigate the recent mining tragedy in the Mynsngat–Thangsko area of East Jaintia Hills district, where the death toll has risen to 27. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced that the inquiry would be constituted under the Commission of Inquiry Act to examine the circumstances that led to the incident and identify those responsible. Officials said the tragedy has also revealed an inter-state dimension, as at least six of the deceased workers were residents of Assam. Many of the victims were daily-wage labourers who had travelled to the region in search of work and were engaged in hazardous mining operations when the accident occurred. Authorities stated that several of the workers were employed informally...

The East Jaintia Hills Police on Sunday said that the search and rescue operation following the illegal coal mining blast that occurred on February 5 is still underway, even as the matter is currently under the consideration of the Hon’ble High Court. Speaking to reporters, Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar informed that the High Court has taken cognizance of the incident and summoned the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills for personal appearance. “In connection with the illegal coal mining blast that happened on the 5th of February, the Hon’ble High Court had taken cognizance and the DC and SP of East Jaintia Hills were called for personal appearance. Since the matter is sub judice, at this stage, we cannot say much,” SP Kumar said. He added...

Performing at Royal Enfield’s street culture festival powered by Spotify RAP 91, Raja Kumari delivers a fearless rap set that turns Polo Grounds into a hip-hop arena._Shillong, February 7, 2026- Raja Kumari brought explosive energy and unapologetic hip-hop swagger to Polo Grounds tonight as she headlined Hunterhood Royal Enfield’s street culture festival presented in collaboration with Spotify RAP 91. Performing in a city celebrated for its deep-rooted live music culture, the rapper delivered a high-voltage set that transformed the venue into a pulsating celebration of street sound and movement. She hit the stage with pure fire, and moved seamlessly through a power-packed lineup featuring crowd favourites like “Karma,” “NRI,” “Mute,” and the anthemic “City Slums.” Tracks such as “The D...

The 35th interim report by Justice (Retd.) B.P. Katakey has revealed the significant disappearance of 37,449.53 metric tonnes (MT) of coal in Meghalaya, identified through a ground verification process following an aerial survey of coal dumps across four districts. The aerial survey, conducted by Garuda UAV Soft Solutions Pvt. Ltd., estimated a total of 1,92,840.13 MT of coal stored in 1,898 dumps; however, subsequent physical verification by district administrations located only 1,55,390.6 MT in 1,889 dumps, resulting in the substantial discrepancy. The findings were detailed per district: East Jaintia Hills: The aerial survey indicated 1,80,299.48 MT across 1,572 dumps. Officials verified all locations, discovering only 1,43,939 MT, which accounts for a shortfall of 36,360.48 MT....

Three days following the devastating mining tragedy in Meghalaya, described as the worst in the state's history, the East Jaintia Hills district administration has heightened enforcement against illegal coal mining, responding to a directive from the Meghalaya High Court. Five teams comprising officials from law enforcement and the Directorate of Mineral Resources have been deployed, successfully seizing approximately 3,197 metric tonnes (MT) of unlawfully mined coal across multiple locations, with an additional 3,356 MT confiscated from various sites along the Sakhain–Thangsko road. During these operations, tools and mining equipment were seized, and 63 detonators along with 204 gelatine sticks were confiscated, leading to three arrests. Multiple illegal mining camps were identifi...