The deadly explosion at an alleged illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district has triggered strong responses from the judiciary, the central government and the state administration, as investigations continue into the incident that killed at least 18 workers and injured another.
Taking serious note of the tragedy, the Meghalaya High Court on February 5 ordered immediate arrests of those responsible for running the illegal mining operation. A division bench comprising Justices HS Thangkhiew and W Diengdoh took suo motu cognisance of media reports about the blast in the Thangskai area and expressed concern that illegal coal mining was still continuing despite earlier fatal incidents in the region, including one reported in January this year.
The court directed the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police of East Jaintia Hills district to quickly identify the mine owners and operators involved in the alleged illegal activity, arrest them, and seize all materials linked to the operation. The bench also instructed authorities to provide immediate assistance and proper medical care to the injured persons and all those affected by the incident. To ensure accountability, the court ordered the district officials to appear in person on February 9 with a detailed report explaining the action taken and how the illegal mining activity was allowed to continue. The matter has been listed for further hearing on the same day.
The judicial intervention came as Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy blamed organised criminal groups for the continued operation of illegal coal mines in Meghalaya. He said the accident occurred in an illegal mine and clarified that there are no government-operated coal mines in the state. According to the minister, no coal block in Meghalaya has been auctioned so far and neither public sector companies nor commercial firms operate coal mines there. He said the Union government has repeatedly written to state authorities asking them to stop illegal mining, but criminal networks continue to run such operations and employ poor workers in unsafe conditions. The minister added that he has sought a detailed report from the state government and stressed that there should be no compromise in enforcement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh each for the families of those who died in the explosion. Officials said the assistance would be provided through the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma confirmed the death toll and said the state government has started action against those responsible. He said two cabinet ministers were sent to the site to assess the situation and oversee relief measures, while the deputy chief minister and senior officials remained in constant contact with the district administration and police. The chief minister stated that the police have been directed to take strict legal action against all individuals involved in the illegal mining operation and warned that such unlawful activities will not be tolerated.
The explosion, which occurred inside the unauthorised mine in the Mynsyngat–Thangskai area, has once again highlighted the persistent problem of illegal coal mining in parts of Meghalaya. Many of these mines operate without safety measures, exposing workers to serious risks. Local residents and observers say that economic hardship often pushes labourers to take up such dangerous work despite the risks involved.