SIT formed, 62 FIRs filed, over 15,000 MT of illegal coal seized in statewide crackdown
Shillong, Feb 16: The death toll in the illegal coal mine explosion at Mynsngat–Thangsko in East Jaintia Hills has risen to 33, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma informed the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in a suo-motu statement on Monday .
The blast, which occurred on February 5 at an illegal mining site in the Khliehriat area of Meghalaya, triggered a massive multi-agency rescue operation involving SDRF, NDRF, police, fire services and medical teams. Rescue efforts concluded on February 9 after 24 bodies were recovered from the site, while several injured later succumbed to injuries in hospitals in Shillong and Guwahati, taking the total fatalities to 33.
Preliminary findings indicate that the explosion was likely caused by the use of explosive substances during illegal mining operations, the Chief Minister said. The hazardous nature of the site — unstable ground, confined underground passages and the presence of machinery — hampered rescue operations and posed serious risks to personnel.
A suo-motu FIR has been registered at Khliehriat Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, MMDR Act and Explosives Substances Act .
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by the DIG (Eastern Range), has been constituted to probe the incident. Seven persons have been arrested in connection with the case so far.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, authorities launched an intensified crackdown on illegal coal mining and transportation across East Jaintia Hills.
According to the statement:
62 FIRs related to illegal coal extraction have been registered, 57 of them after the February 5 incident.
5 FIRs filed for illegal transportation of coal
2 FIRs filed for seizure of explosives
15,224.72 metric tonnes of illegal coal seized as of February 14.
6 cranes dismantled and multiple machinery units seized 6 vehicles used for illegal coal transport seized.
Authorities have also imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 BNSS around mining sites and stepped up drone surveillance to detect illegal extraction activities.
Notably, the government revealed that even in 2025, drone-based monitoring had led to the seizure of over 11,000 MT of illegally mined coal.
In a major step, the State Government has constituted a Judicial Enquiry Commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952, notified on February 14.
The Commission will be headed by Justice (Retd.) R.S. Chauhan, former Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts, along with retired IPS officer H. Nongpluh and retired IAS officer Peter Dkhar. The panel has been given six months to submit its report.
Its mandate includes investigating the circumstances leading to the February 5 explosion,
fixing accountability for lapses, examining the root causes of illegal coal mining in Meghalaya, recommending administrative and institutional reforms, suggesting rehabilitation measures for families dependent on coal mining and exploring whether constitutional provisions under the Sixth Schedule allow legal flexibility in mining practices.
The government has disbursed ₹24 lakh in ex-gratia assistance to the families of eight deceased persons, with the process underway for the remaining affected families .
The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to curb illegal mining while also pursuing “scientific mining,” stating that three proposals have already received approvals and 20 more are at advanced stages of clearance from the Government of India.
Also Read: Recruitment for 3000 police vacancies nearing completion: Meghalaya Governor
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