Illegal coal mining in Meghalaya has claimed yet another life, as the death toll from the recent coal mine blast in East Jaintia Hills district rose to 28 on Monday.
The deceased has been identified as Raju Tamang, who was undergoing treatment at NEIGRIMS Hospital, Shillong. He succumbed to his injuries at around 6:21 pm, Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar confirmed.
The blast occurred last week at an illegally operated coal mine located in the Thangsku area of Mynsngat village, triggering a massive search and rescue operation involving multiple agencies. Several workers were trapped and injured following the explosion.
In the wake of the tragedy, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has ordered the constitution of a Judicial Inquiry Commission to investigate the incident. The inquiry will examine the circumstances leading to the blast and fix responsibility for the illegal mining activities.
Authorities have reiterated that strict action will be taken against those found involved in illegal coal mining, as concerns continue to mount over safety lapses and repeated mining-related accidents in the region.