Guwahati: The death toll from the coal mine explosion in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya has risen to 30, with two more individuals succumbing to injuries at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) in Assam, officials said on Tuesday.
Both victims, identified as Ramchandra Baishnab and Nimaruddin, were residents of Katigorah in Assam’s Cachar district and had been undergoing treatment following the blast.
The explosion occurred at an illegal coal mining site, claiming at least 18 lives initially, while several others were feared trapped, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation by local authorities.
In response, the Meghalaya government has ordered a judicial inquiry to investigate the circumstances leading to the disaster and determine accountability. Meanwhile, two individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident, as Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma warned of strict action against those responsible.
The Assam government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each deceased from the state. So far, at least eight labourers from Cachar district have died in the tragedy.
Rescue operations continue in the East Jaintia Hills, with officials striving to locate any remaining trapped miners amid challenging terrain.