Smoke billows after an explosion (right image) at an illegal coal mine in the East Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya, on February 5, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI, Reuters At least 18 people were killed, and several labourers were feared trapped after an explosion occurred in a suspected “illegal” coal mine at a village in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday (February 5, 2026), police said. The East Jaintia Hills district police confirmed the recovery of 18 bodies from the mine. They further added that the labourers died after an explosion inside the mine that trapped them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident. “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’s Office (PMO) quoted Mr. Modi as saying in a post on X. Follow the live updates below: Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation Youth murdered – The Hindu Hotel worker attacked – The Hindu