Guwahati: In a major tragedy, six miners hailing from Assam have died at an abandoned coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills on Thursday, once again establishing that illegal coal mining is going on in the state despite restrictions.
According to the official sources, five miners died inside the mine and one succumbed to injuries later.
The incident happened at an old abandoned mine coal pit near the Dimasalang village in the Lafarge area.
Five bodies have been retrieved and the bodies have been identified. The bodies are currently at a community health centre near to the village for conducting post mortem examination.
It is to be noted that the incident happened when the miners were cleaning the aabandoned coal pit.
The Officials also mentioned that all the deceased are from Assam.
District Magistrate E Kharmalki said five of the six victims were identified and their families informed.
The bodies will be later on handed to their relatives after the post mortem.
The incident brought back memories of a similar tragedy inside a rat-hole coal mine in the district in December 2018.
At least 15 miners had got trapped 370 feet below and despite over two-month-long efforts by multiple agencies, including the Indian Navy, the bodies of only a few victims could be retrieved. Five miners had managed to escape by climbing wires.
There have been several incidents of coal mine mishaps in the past in Meghalaya that is endowed with the finest qualities of coal.
