Meghalaya Mine Blast: Death Toll Hits 27, Viral Video Claims 518 Workers Inside

GUWAHATI: The death toll in the explosion at an alleged illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district has risen to 27, even as rescue operations continue and several workers are feared trapped.

The latest fatality was reported from NEIGRIHMS, Shillong, where an injured worker identified as Nar Bahadur succumbed to his injuries on Friday afternoon despite intensive medical care.

NEIGRIHMS Medical Superintendent Prof (Dr) Suvamoy Chakraborty said nine injured workers were admitted following the blast, with eight currently undergoing treatment. Two workers, Raju Tamang and Jamil Ahmed, have suffered severe burn injuries of around 70–75 per cent and are on ventilatory support in the Critical Care Unit. Dev Malakar and Lalit Magar, admitted to the medical ICU with around 50 per cent burns, remain critical but are responding to treatment. The remaining injured workers—Bam Bahadur, Dawa Sherpa, Kaurna Mangal and Shanky Shila—are being treated in an isolated ENT ward due to the unavailability of ICU beds, with varying degrees of burn injuries. A dedicated team of burn specialists, plastic surgeons and critical care doctors is closely monitoring their condition.

Meanwhile, a fresh controversy has erupted after a viral social media video raised questions about the actual number of workers present inside the mine during the explosion. In the video, a young man claiming to have been at the site alleged that around 518 workers were inside the mine at the time of the blast, suggesting that the official casualty figures may not reflect the full scale of the tragedy. The Meghalaya government have not independently verified the claim.

The incident has once again brought the issue of illegal coal mining in the Northeast into sharp focus. Despite a ban on rat-hole mining, such activities are believed to continue in several parts of Meghalaya and Assam, posing serious risks to workers and the environment.

Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) secretary and senior leader Jagadish Bhuyan criticised both the Assam and Meghalaya governments, accusing them of failing to rein in illegal coal mining and transportation across the Northeast. He said he had earlier exposed rat-hole mining operations in Umrangso, Karbi Anglong and Ledo and had submitted documentary evidence to authorities. Bhuyan alleged that complaints against individuals including Debolal Gorlosa (Chief Executive Member) of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), and his wife, Kanika Hojai and Managing Director of Assam Mineral Development Corporation Ltd., Natarajan Anand were ignored and claimed coal transportation continued under political patronage, including the involvement of elected representatives.

Bhuyan also expressed concern over the delay in the submission of a judicial commission’s report on illegal coal mining, stating that he had testified before the commission but the findings were yet to be made public. He demanded the immediate release of the report and strict action against those responsible. Raising environmental concerns, he accused the government of prioritising development at the cost of ecological destruction, citing large-scale deforestation and continued illegal coal extraction, and warned of long-term consequences for the region.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) confirmed that two more bodies were recovered on Saturday, taking the death toll to 27, while search operations continue for missing miners. Earlier, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has ordered a detailed probe into the incident and said those responsible would face strict legal action. A suo motu FIR has been registered at Khliehriat police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and the Explosive Substances Act.

Justice (retd) BP Katakey, overseeing compliance on mining-related issues, visited the site and confirmed large-scale illegal mining activities in the area. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, with ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.

The state officials of Meghalaya said investigations into the blast and alleged illegal mining operations are ongoing, while rescue teams continue efforts to locate missing workers.

Also Read: Meghalaya: Death Toll in EJH Mine Explosion Reaches 25, Two Held