New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday conveyed his sorrow following a fatal coal mine explosion in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district that has left at least 16 people dead, while also declaring financial relief for the bereaved families.
“Pained by the mishap in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” the Prime Minister wrote on X. He further stated that Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will be given to the next of kin of every deceased victim, with Rs 50,000 allocated for those injured.
The blast took place on Thursday morning in Thangsku during coal extraction activities at what is believed to be an illegally operated mining site. According to police, 16 workers’ bodies have been retrieved thus far, though several others remain feared trapped as rescue operations continue.
Pained by the mishap in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM…— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 5, 2026
One injured labourer was first brought to Sutnga Primary Health Centre before being transferred to a Shillong hospital for further medical care. Officials have stated that the precise cause behind the explosion remains unclear and a thorough investigation will follow.
Also Read: Meghalaya Coal Mine Explosion: 16 Dead, Several Trapped in East Jaintia Hills Blast
The National Green Tribunal prohibited rat-hole mining a method using extremely narrow tunnels through which workers must crawl in 2014 over grave safety and environmental risks, a ban the Supreme Court subsequently upheld.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has directed a full-scale investigation, pledging stringent legal measures against those found culpable and extending support to the victims’ families.