Rescue and search operations are still ongoing at the blast site
Digital Desk: The death toll from the devastating dynamite explosion at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district has risen to 30, after another injured miner succumbed to his injuries. The incident has once again highlighted the deadly consequences of unchecked rat-hole mining and the continuing human cost of the 5th February tragedy.
The latest fatality was confirmed from Shillong. East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar said one of the injured miners undergoing treatment at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) died on Monday evening. “One injured person at NEIGRIHMS succumbed today. Raju Tamang passed away on 9th February , 2026, at 6:21 pm,” the SP stated. Raju Tamang had been battling critical injuries since the powerful blast ripped through the illegal mine.
Meanwhile, the impact of the tragedy has continued to unfold in neighbouring Assam. Two more miners from Cachar district, who were injured in the same explosion, died while undergoing treatment at Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH). The deceased have been identified as Ramcharan Baisnab of Katigorah and Niman Uddin of Borkhola. Hospital sources confirmed that Niman Uddin, son of Moktasim Ali and a resident of Sarishakuri village in Katigorah, succumbed to his injuries early Monday morning, while Ramcharan Baisnab died on Sunday night.
With these deaths, the number of victims from Cachar district alone has risen to eight, underlining the wide geographical reach of the disaster.
Rescue and search operations are still ongoing at the blast site, with authorities maintaining that efforts are being made to ensure no one remains trapped inside the mine. Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said personnel have been instructed to continue combing the area. “The operation is still on. There has been no recovery of bodies at present, but we have asked the concerned teams to thoroughly check if anyone is still trapped or if there are any more bodies at the site,” he said.
On the law enforcement front, Tynsong confirmed that action has begun against those responsible for the illegal mining operation. “We have already arrested two people. The police are continuing their investigation to gather more details from those arrested and to identify others involved in this illegal activity, including the miners and operators,” he added.
The February 5 explosion remains one of the deadliest recent mining-related disasters in the region, renewing calls for strict enforcement against illegal coal mining practices in Meghalaya.
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