Meghalaya coal mine explosion: 4 Nepali nationals confirmed dead

KATHMANDU: The death toll of Nepali nationals in a devastating coal mine explosion in India’s Meghalaya state has risen to four, following the identification of another missing worker.

Ratna Rai, 50, of Halesi Tuwachung Municipality-5, Durbhim Jorkaphal in Khotang district, was confirmed dead after his charred body was identified at a hospital in eastern Jaintia Hills. Family members identified him based on his physical features after he went missing following the explosion.

Rai had traveled to Meghalaya on Sept 25 in search of employment. News of his death has plunged his family and the entire village into mourning. His sons had already begun funeral rites from Feb 8, anticipating the worst.

Earlier, three other Nepali workers from Barahapokhari Rural Municipality-1, Salghari in Khotang, were killed in the same explosion.

The victims were identified as 27-year-old Purna Bahadur Khapangi, 24-year-old Surendra Khapangi, and 35-year-old Nar Bahadur Khapangi. Purna Bahadur and Surendra were brothers from the same family.

The explosion occurred on Feb 5. Purna Bahadur and Surendra died on the spot, while Nar Bahadur succumbed to his injuries during treatment the following day.

The three Khapangi victims were cremated on Feb 9 at Jhalupara in Shillong. According to a relative, Prakash Khapangi Magar, the bodies were cremated in India after no initiative or support was received from the Government of Nepal to repatriate the remains.

Meanwhile, three other Nepali workers were seriously injured in the blast. They include 46-year-old Karnabahadur Khapangi and 40-year-old Bambabahadur Khapangi of Barahapokhari, and 40-year-old Lalit Magar of Saune, Udayapur. All of them had reached in Meghalaya only on Dec 18 in search of work.

The powerful dynamite explosion occurred at a reportedly illegally operated coal mine in eastern Jaintia Hills.

Authorities fear that dozens of workers may still be trapped inside the mine.