Amit Shah Expresses Condolences for Lives Lost in Meghalaya Mine Blast and Assures State Support

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed his condolences for the tragic loss of 18 miners in a coal mine blast in Meghalaya. He assured the state of full support from the Centre and confirmed that NDRF teams are deployed to assist.

Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, stated that two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are en route to a coal mine explosion site in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district. One team has already arrived. The blast at an illegal coal mine, known as a rat hole mine, resulted in 18 fatalities. Shah assured the state of full support from the Centre.

East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar reported that the explosion took place at Mynsyngat in the Thangsku area. This type of mining has been prohibited by the National Green Tribunal. A total of 18 bodies have been recovered from the site, according to the police officer.

Government Response and Support

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the incident and announced financial aid for the victims' families. An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased, while Rs 50,000 will be given to those injured. "Pained by the mishap in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest," Modi's message read on X.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma also expressed his condolences and announced an investigation into the incident. He stated that rescue operations are ongoing with teams from NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and a Special Rescue Team (SRT) deployed at the site.

Rescue Efforts Underway

Shah communicated with Meghalaya's Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to assure him of comprehensive support from the Centre. "Pained by the loss of lives in the tragic accident in Meghalaya. One NDRF team has reached, and two more teams are on the way," Shah conveyed on X.

The tragic event highlights ongoing concerns about illegal mining practices in Meghalaya. Despite bans, such activities continue, posing significant risks to miners' safety. Authorities are now focused on rescue efforts and investigating how this illegal operation was still active.

The incident underscores the need for stringent enforcement of mining regulations to prevent future tragedies. As rescue operations proceed, authorities aim to ensure that similar incidents do not recur, prioritising miner safety and legal compliance in mining activities.

With inputs from PTI