Two persons have been arrested and forwarded to court in connection with the deadly dynamite explosion at a coal mine in the Mynsyngat–Thangsko area of East Jaintia Hills district, an incident that claimed 18 lives and left eight others injured, as search and rescue operations continued on Friday, February 6, amid a massive multi-agency response.
East Jaintia Hills District Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar confirmed the arrests and said legal action has been initiated in the case.
Search and rescue operations continued with multiple response teams mobilised to retrieve bodies, trace any survivors and secure the affected mine site.
The exercise involved two teams of the State Disaster Response Force, one Special Rescue Team and three teams of the National Disaster Response Force. Medical arrangements were augmented with an additional medical team from Jowai and Shillong and seven ambulances deployed from Jowai. The Border Security Force was also deployed, with one Deputy Commandant, 15 personnel, two ambulances with nursing staff and two doctors at the site, while the Army and Air Force remained on standby.
The gravity of the incident prompted visits to the area of occurrence by Cabinet Ministers Lahkmen Rymbui and Wailadmiki Shylla. Justice (retd) B.P. Katakey, who is heading the committee appointed by the Meghalaya High Court to investigate illegal coal mining in the state, is also visiting the place of occurrence, underscoring heightened scrutiny over illegal mining activities in the district.
Detailing the legal action, the Superintendent of Police said, “In connection with the incident Suo-motu FIR has been registered vide Khliehriat PS case no 14/2026 U/s 105/118(2)/3(5) BNS R/W section 21/21(1) MMDR Act R/W section 3 Explosives Substances Act and investigation in on.”
