Meghalaya

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...

The Meghalaya government has decided to order a judicial probe into the blast at an illegal rat-hole coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district on February 5 that claimed 27 lives. "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 Hills," Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said. He said the commission will examine the sequence of events leading to the tragedy, identify lapses and fix responsibility.  While nine workers were undergoing treatment in Shillong, several people are still missing. Two owners of the mine have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Police have arrested two persons in connection with the deadly explosion at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district, which claimed at least 18 lives. Director General of Police I. Nongrang said another individual has been identified in the case, and further investigation is ongoing.Rescue operations are continuing amid fears that more people may still be trapped inside the mine. Authorities are working under challenging conditions to locate survivors and recover bodies.Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday said the government would take stringent action against those responsible for the incident. He directed state ministers to visit the site, coordinate with officials, and assess the rescue, relief, and law-and-order situation.The Chief Minister also announced ...

The death toll in the coal mine blast in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district has risen to 25 after seven more bodies were recovered during rescue operations on Friday. Officials said the search and recovery work is still continuing as teams try to locate any remaining workers who may still be trapped inside the mine. The incident took place on Thursday at an illegal coal mine located in Thangsku area under Umsngat village. Soon after the blast, local authorities launched a large rescue operation involving several emergency response agencies. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Special Rescue Team reached the site and began the difficult task of clearing debris and searching the affected area. According to Meghalaya Di...

A division bench of the Meghalaya High Court, comprising Justices HS Thangkhiew and W Diengdoh, has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports concerning the recent blast in the Thangsku area of East Jaintia Hills district. Expressing serious concern, the court noted that illegal coal mining activities appeared to have continued despite a similar fatal incident reported on January 14 earlier this year. Issuing directions for immediate action, the bench ordered the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills to identify and arrest the mine owners and operators allegedly involved in the illegal operations. The court further directed authorities to seize all incriminating materials connected to the mining activities. Additionally, the High Court instructed...