Kathmandu. At least 18 people were killed on Thursday in an explosion at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s Meghalaya state, officials said. Two Nepali brothers from Khotang were among the dead.
According to the police, the explosion was caused by dynamite used inside the mine, which released toxic gas and destroyed the tunnels.TAG_OPEN_p_5 So far, 18 bodies have been recovered and eight people have been injured. According to local sources, around 30 to 40 miners are suspected to be trapped inside the mine.
Prime Minister TAG_OPEN_p_4 Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. The Meghalaya government has also announced an additional Rs 3 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased.
Although rate-hole mining has been banned in Meghalaya since 2014, high wages have resulted in many workers working in hazardous conditions. These workers also include Nepalese and Assamese citizens.
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