Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills mine blast toll rises to 19; two arrested as rescue operations continue

The death toll in the blast at an illegal rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district rose to 19 on Friday after rescue teams recovered another body in the afternoon, state minister Lahkmen Rymbui said. 

Eight others have been injured in the incident, while efforts are continuing to locate any possible survivors trapped at the site.

Addressing the media at the blast site, Rymbui said the latest body was recovered at around 1.30 pm, taking the total number of fatalities to 19. 

He added that the identities of both the deceased and the injured could not be established immediately, as investigations are still underway.

The injured have been shifted to different medical facilities, with six admitted to the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), one to Selsella Community Health Centre in West Garo Hills, and another to a hospital in Juwai. The body recovered has been moved to Khairiyat for further procedures.

Rymbui said rescue operations were launched immediately after the blast, but work could not progress during the night due to difficult terrain and poor visibility. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force and the National Disaster Response Force, already stationed in the district, reached the site the same night. 

On Friday morning, two additional NDRF teams arrived from Guwahati along with officers and a doctor, while district administration officials and medical teams remained deployed at the site.

He confirmed that two persons have been arrested so far in connection with the incident and said further investigation would be carried out to ensure that those responsible face legal action. The minister also stressed the need for strict action against illegal mining activities in the remote and interior areas of the district.

The minister said the state government has announced ex gratia assistance for the families of the deceased and for the injured, adding that similar announcements have been made by the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister. 

Rymbui said he and the health minister visited the site on the instructions of the Chief Minister to oversee rescue and relief operations, and a detailed report would be submitted to the government.

Rescue teams are continuing operations amid challenging conditions, with authorities hoping to conclude the search as early as possible.