The death toll from the February 5 dynamite explosion at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills has risen to 32, with two more victims succumbing to injuries during treatment. The Deputy Commissioner, Manish Kumar, reported that Jamil Ahmed Choudhury and Deb Malakar died in hospitals following the incident. In response, the district administration has intensified efforts against illegal mining, deploying five multi-agency enforcement teams to conduct raids and seizing approximately 432.15 metric tonnes of coal in one day. This brings the total coal confiscated in ongoing operations to over 4,800 metric tonnes, with multiple FIRs filed and legal proceedings initiated.
To enhance public safety, the District Magistrate imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, allowing authorities to dismantle illegal structures and remove equipment from the explosion site.
The Embassy of Nepal has reached out seeking information about 15–18 Nepali workers present during the explosion, while investigations into the labour recruitment processes and conditions are ongoing. Authorities confirmed that there is no evidence of Bangladeshi workers being involved.
Emerging allegations have linked the rampant illegal mining to a network of politically influential individuals who may be orchestrating operations behind the scenes. The incident has prompted significant media attention and raised concerns regarding enforcement failures and the persistence of illegal rat-hole mining in the region.