An explosion at an illegal coal mine in India’s northeastern state of Meghalaya killed at least 18 workers on Thursday, authorities said. One more worker was injured in the incident.
Police officer Vikash Kumar said rescue teams recovered 18 bodies from the mine in a remote area of the East Jaintia Hills district. The injured worker was pulled out alive and taken to a hospital for treatment.
Officials said it was not immediately clear how many workers were inside the mine at the time of the explosion or what caused the blast. An investigation is underway.
Coal mining in parts of eastern and northeastern India often takes place in dangerous and unregulated “rat-hole” mines. These are narrow pits, usually just wide enough for one person to descend. Coal is lifted to the surface using boxes and pulleys, while in some cases miners carry baskets of coal up wooden supports along the mine walls.
The practice is widely criticised for its safety risks. Workers are often paid between $18 and $24 for a shift lasting up to 10 hours.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said authorities would identify those responsible for the explosion and take strict action against illegal mining activities.
Deadly accidents in illegal coal mines are common in the region. In 2018, at least 15 miners died after becoming trapped in a similar mine in Meghalaya.
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