In the wake of a devastating coal mine explosion in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya Director General of Police Ida shisha Nongrang has constituted a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a thorough probe into the incident that claimed at least 31 lives.
The explosion occurred on February 5 at an illegal rat-hole coal mine in Thangsku area of Mynsngat village. Authorities confirmed that the death toll rose after an injured worker succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Guwahati. The SIT, headed by Deputy Inspector General Vivekanand S Rathore, has been tasked with identifying the cause of the blast, investigating violations of court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives, and ensuring accountability.
Despite a blanket ban on rat-hole mining imposed by the National Green Tribunal in 2014, illegal mining activities reportedly continued in the region.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has also announced a judicial inquiry to fix responsibility. The state government has assured strict action, with arrests made and illegal coal seizures underway.
