The National Himan Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday said it has issued a notice to the the Meghalaya government and the state’s police chief over reports that 18 workers died after a blast at an “illegal coal mine” in the Thangskai area of East Jaintia Hills earlier this month. Reportedly, the incident has left several others trapped at unspecified depths, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a statement.
The commission has “taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that 18 workers died after a blast at an illegal coal mine in Thangskai area of East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, on February 5,” it said. Notices have been sent to the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya and the Director General of Police, directing them to submit a detailed report within two weeks.
According to the NHRC, the report must include the status of the ongoing rescue operations, details of compensation provided to the affected families, progress of the police investigation, and measures taken or proposed to prevent similar incidents in the future. The commission emphasised the need for accountability and effective enforcement to ensure such accidents do not recur.