Illegal coal mine blast in Meghalaya kills 18, including Nepali workers

KATHMANDU: At least 18 miners, including several Nepalis, have died in a deadly explosion at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. The incident occurred on Thursday morning in a “rat-hole” mine, a dangerous mining method long banned by India’s Supreme Court but still practiced in remote areas.

Authorities fear that more workers remain trapped inside the mine. Rescue operations are ongoing, complicated by the presence of smoke, toxic gases, and water flooding the mine. Police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed to the site. So far, 18 bodies have been recovered, one miner has been rescued in critical condition, and several others remain unaccounted for.

Among the victims are two brothers from Barahpokhari, Khotang, Nepal. Twenty-seven-year-old Purna Bahadur Khapangi Magar and his 24-year-old brother Surendra Khapangi Magar were killed on the spot. Three other relatives—Nar Bahadur (35), Bam Bahadur (45), and Karn Bahadur Khapangi (40)—sustained serious injuries, with Nar Bahadur and Bam Bahadur reported in critical condition. Another Nepali worker, Lalit Bahadur Magar from Udayapur, was also injured. Only one member of the seven-person Nepali team, Tarabal Magar, escaped unhurt and informed his family of the tragedy. The workers had traveled to Meghalaya for employment on 18 December 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, while both the central and Meghalaya governments announced compensation for the victims. The state administration has ordered a probe into the incident and warned of strict action against those running illegal mining operations. Security around the site has been heightened until rescue efforts conclude.

Meghalaya has witnessed multiple fatal accidents in rat-hole mines despite the Supreme Court ban, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in the state’s coal mining sector.