10 Assam migrant workers killed in Meghalaya coal mine blast. Explosion suspected during illegal mining operations in East Jaintia Hills; one critically injured, more feared trapped after partial hill collapse.
Shillong: In a tragic incident that once again exposes the deadly risks of illegal mining in Meghalaya, a suspected dynamite explosion ripped through an unlicensed rat-hole coal mine in East Jaintia Hills on February 4, 2026, claiming the lives of at least ten migrant workers from Assam and leaving one critically injured. Rescue teams recovered ten bodies and fear that debris from a partial hill collapse may still be trapping more labourers, renewing urgent calls for stricter enforcement of the long-standing ban on such hazardous operations.
Details of the Tragic Explosion
The incident took place on Thursday, February 4, 2026, in the remote Mynsyngat–Thangsko area of East Jaintia Hills. Preliminary investigations suggest that miners used dynamite during illegal mining operations, which triggered the explosion. Rescue teams recovered four bodies, and they rushed one person with severe burn injuries to Shillong for treatment. Officials warned that the death toll could rise, as a partial hill collapse may have trapped more workers.
Victims Identified as Migrant Workers from Assam
Authorities believe the deceased were migrant labourers from Assam, highlighting the dangers that out-of-state workers face at these unregulated sites. Officials have identified three of the victims: Faruk Ahmed from Bihara village under Katigora police station, and Dildar Hussain and Anwora Hussain from Sharisha Kuri village. Authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the fourth victim, and they have not disclosed details of the injured individual.
Rescue Operations and Police Response
Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the site and began search and recovery operations. East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar confirmed the recoveries, saying, “We have retrieved four bodies from the remote coal mine area. We shifted one person with burn injuries to Shillong for treatment.” Police initially reported fewer casualties, but hospital records later confirmed the deaths.
Ongoing Investigation into the Cause
The exact circumstances of the blast are under investigation, with authorities probing the use of dynamite in the illegal mine. Authorities have not made any arrests so far, and they are likely to register a suo motu case, as they have done in similar incidents in the past.
Pattern of Deadly Incidents in East Jaintia Hills
This tragedy highlights the ongoing dangers of illegal rat-hole coal mining in the region. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned this practice in 2014 due to serious environmental and safety concerns. Despite the ban, mining continues in several areas.
The Mynsyngat–Thangsko region has emerged as a major hotspot for such incidents. On December 23, 2025, a similar dynamite explosion killed two miners. One victim, believed to be a Bangladeshi national, died on the spot. The other, Ashok Tamang from Assam, later died on January 1, 2026.
Another deadly incident occurred on January 14, 2026, in Umthe village. A mine collapse there claimed the life of Mosaid Ali, a 48-year-old resident of Assam’s Hojai district. In recent weeks, illegal mining in East Jaintia Hills has been linked to at least seven deaths.
The Justice (retd) B.P. Katakey committee, appointed by the Meghalaya High Court, and the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) have previously ordered probes into such accidents, emphasizing the need for stricter enforcement. These events often involve migrant workers from Assam and Bangladesh, drawn by economic needs but exposed to hazardous conditions in narrow, unstable tunnels.
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