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NEW DELHI: One person was injured while several labourers were trapped and feared dead after an explosion rocked a suspected illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday, police said.The blast occurred in the Thangsku area, Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said. “Our team has confirmed that the incident took place this morning, but the number of people inside was not confirmed,” Kumar told PTI.According to the police, one injured labourer was first taken to a primary health centre and later referred to Shillong for better medical treatment.The explosion is suspected to have occurred during coal mining activities at the site, which officials believe was operating illegally. Asked about the status of the mine, Kumar said, “Yes, it seems like that.” However the exact cause of the blast is yet to be ascertained and an inquiry will be conducted, he added.The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned rat-hole coal mining and other unscientific mining practices in Meghalaya in 2014, citing serious environmental damage and safety concerns. Rat-hole mining involves digging narrow tunnels, usually 3–4 feet high, through which workers enter to extract coal, often at great risk to their lives.
