Five Assam Workers Among 10 Killed in Meghalaya Coal Mine Blast

A major explosion inside a coal mine in Meghalaya on Thursday left at least 10 workers dead, including five labourers from Assam’s Cachar district.

The incident took place in a coal mine in the East Jaintia Hills district when the men were on their daily routine operations in the mines. As early reports put it, there was a sudden explosion that led to the collapse of soil and debris due to heavy weight falling above a mine followed with a fire burning within the mine and several labourers being trapped within the mine.

Shortly after the explosion, rescue crews were at the location, and Meghalaya police began an operation to find and extract people trapped inside. Until now, 10 bodies have been extracted out of the mine with concerns that the number may increase.

Among the deceased are five workers from Katigorah in Assam's Cachar, who had been working in Meghalaya’s coal mines for a long time. Both the victims have been identified to be brothers Dildar Hussain and Anar Hussain and another victim has been identified as Faruk Ahmed of Behara in Katigorah. The identities of two others are yet to be confirmed.

Visuals from the site showed thick black smoke billowing from the mine as labourers gathered nearby in shock. 

Further details are awaited as search operations continue.

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