At least 18 miners died and one remains critically injured after a massive explosion in an illegal rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district on February 5, 2026. Rescue operations continue amid fears of more trapped workers in the notoriously dangerous underground shafts.
Incident Overview
The blast occurred around 2 PM in a privately-owned mine near Mualsei village, triggered by methane gas buildup in the narrow 3×4 foot tunnels typical of rat-hole mining. Bodies were recovered from the 200-meter deep site, with rescuers using oxygen masks and pumps to combat flooding and toxic fumes.
Rescue Challenges
Local police and NDRF teams face slim tunnels, poor ventilation, and unstable structures, slowing extraction; the sole survivor is in critical condition at a local hospital. Officials confirmed the mine’s illegal status, banned since 2014 due to safety risks that previously claimed 15 lives in 2018.
Broader Context
Rat-hole mining persists illegally in Meghalaya despite Supreme Court bans, driven by poverty and lack of alternatives in the coal-rich Northeast. Authorities vow stricter enforcement, but experts call for rehabilitation and legal mining revival.
