By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: A three-day sitting of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice (retd) R.S. Chauhan, was held from May 6 to 8 at the State Guest House in Shillong in connection with the Mynsngat-Thangsko blast in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district that occurred on February 5.
The blast had claimed the lives of 33 migrant workers, most of them from Assam and Nepal, following which the state government set up a judicial inquiry to examine the incident.
During the proceedings on May 6, the Commission heard submissions from officials including the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest, Shillong, representatives of the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (Ranchi), the Ministry of Coal, and the Directorate of Mineral Resources, Shillong.
Statements were presented, on May 7, by the Shallang Area Trader Association of West Khasi Hills and the South West Khasi Hills Mine Owners and Exporter Association.
On the final day, May 8, inputs were given by the North Eastern Space Application Centre, the Indian Bureau of Mines, and relatives of those killed in the blast.
The inquiry panel has announced that its next hearing will take place between July 13 and 15, 2026. On July 13, the Commission will also visit the blast site as part of its ongoing investigation.
The judicial probe was set up by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma following the incident, with the mandate to examine both the explosion and issues related to illegal mining activities in the region.
In connection with illegal mining cases, officials have registered 62 FIRs so far. These cases have also led to the recovery of more than 15,000 metric tonnes of coal and a quantity of explosives.