Meghalaya: Toll in blast at illegal coal mine rises to 30 as three more succumb to injuries

Three more workers succumbed to their injuries sustained in the February 5 blast at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district, raising the overall toll to 30, The Times of India reported on Monday.

The explosion occurred at a mine in the Thangsko area of Mynsngat village on Thursday morning. The site of the explosion is located about 40 km from the district headquarters.

Two of the workers, Ramcharan Baisnab and Niman Uddin, both from Assam’s Cachar district, died while undergoing treatment in the Barak Valley. Another worker, Raju Tamang, was declared dead in Shillong.

On Monday, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that the Meghalaya government would constitute a judicial inquiry commission to investigate the incident.

Two persons have been arrested in the matter so far. They were identified as 36-year-old Forme Chyrmang and 42-year-old Shamehi War.

A suo motu first information report has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, read with the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act and the Explosive Substances Act.

The deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of East Jaintia Hills appeared before the Meghalaya High Court in connection with the explosion on Monday. A division bench comprising Justices Hamarsan Sing Thangkhiew and Wanlura Diengdoh, which took suo moto cognisance of the matter, had sought details of the action taken so far.

The incident has once again...

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