Rat-hole mine blast: 57 FIRs and 15,000 tonnes illegal coal seized in Meghalaya

GUWAHATI

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday (February 16, 2026) said 57 first information reports (FIRs) on illegal coal extraction were registered after the February 5 explosion in a rat-hole mine that killed 33 miners.

Five additional FIRs on illegal transportation of coal and two relating to seizure of explosives were also registered after the fatal blast in the Mynsngat-Thangsko area of East Jaintia Hills district, he told the 60-member Assembly. 

Presenting the enforcement figures in a statement, the Chief Minister said 15,224.72 metric tonnes of illegally mined coal were seized after the coal mine incident. While seven people were arrested in the explosion case, seven others were arrested in connection with other coal-related illegal activities.

Eradication of illegal mining

“The State Government is committed to ensuring that illegal coal mining and illegal transportation is stopped,” he said, informing the House that drones were being used to monitor the mining areas where enforcement teams continue to scout the terrain.

Putting the death toll at 33, Mr. Sangma said unstable ground conditions, confined underground passages, debris, and the presence of machinery and explosives posed serious risks to the survivors of the coal mine blast and rescue personnel.

He said the State government notified a judicial inquiry commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act of 1952 on February 14, two days after a Special Investigation Team of the police was constituted to investigate the case.

Earlier, Governor C.H. Vijayashankar told the House that the State was moving “steadily” towards regulated and sustainable mining, with three projects having received final approval and 20 more applications at advanced stages of clearance.

The National Green Tribunal banned the hazardous rat-hole coal mining in April 2014. The ban was upheld by the Supreme Court later.