25 Dead in Meghalaya Illegal Coal Mine Blast; High Court Orders Immediate Arrests, Injured Under Treatment

Shillong, Feb 2026 :At least eight people are undergoing treatment in hospitals in Shillong after sustaining serious burn injuries in a powerful dynamite explosion at an alleged illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district, officials said on Friday. The incident, one of the deadliest mining accidents in recent years, has claimed the lives of at least 25 workers and once again exposed the continued operation of banned rat-hole coal mining in the region.

According to health officials, seven of the injured victims have been admitted to the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), while one person is receiving treatment at Nazareth Hospital in Shillong. The injured have been identified as Shanki Shylla, Deb Malakar, Korna, Bom Magar, Lalit Magar, Jamil Ahmed, and Nor Bahadur. Doctors treating them said all seven patients admitted to NEIGRIHMS have suffered second-degree burn injuries and remain under close medical observation.

Hospital authorities confirmed that the condition of the injured is currently stable, though they continue to receive specialised care due to the severity of their burns. Medical teams are monitoring them closely to prevent complications, officials said.

The explosion occurred on Wednesday morning at the Thangsku area in East Jaintia Hills district, triggering a massive fire and collapse inside the mine. Rescue operations continued for hours, with teams recovering bodies from the site amid hazardous conditions. By Thursday, the death toll had risen to 25, making it one of the most tragic mining disasters in the state in recent times.

In a significant development, police on Friday arrested two individuals believed to be the owners of the illegal coal mine where the blast took place. Confirming the arrests, East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said the accused were taken into custody in connection with the deadly explosion. However, police declined to disclose their identities, stating that details would be made public after the accused are produced before a court.

The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the persistent violation of mining bans in Meghalaya, particularly the continued practice of rat-hole coal mining, which has been prohibited following multiple court directives. Despite repeated warnings and previous fatal incidents, illegal mining activities have continued in parts of the state, often putting the lives of workers at grave risk.

Taking a stern view of the incident, the Meghalaya High Court has ordered immediate arrests in connection with the deadly explosion. A division bench comprising Justice H.S. Thangkhiew and Justice W. Diengdoh took suo motu cognisance of media reports related to the blast and expressed serious concern over the continued operation of illegal coal mines in the district.

The court noted that another fatal incident had been reported in the same district on January 14 this year, indicating a disturbing pattern of repeated violations of the mining ban and court orders. Observing that such recurring tragedies point to grave administrative and enforcement failures, the bench directed the district administration and police to act without delay.

The High Court ordered the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills to identify and arrest the mine owners, operators, and all others involved in the alleged illegal mining operations. It further instructed authorities to seize all machinery, equipment, documents, and other incriminating materials linked to the mining activity.

Seeking accountability, the court also asked officials to explain how such prohibited activities were allowed to continue despite existing legal restrictions and earlier incidents. The bench cautioned that stringent directions would follow if authorities failed to demonstrate concrete and effective action on the ground.

As investigations continue, the tragedy has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of mining laws and stronger administrative oversight to prevent further loss of life. The focus now remains on ensuring justice for the victims, accountability for those responsible, and urgent measures to end illegal mining practices in the region.