Six killed in Meghalaya coal mine accident

Six killed in Meghalaya coal mine accident

Six people have been killed in a mine accident in Meghalaya's eastern Jayanthi Hills district, a senior official said on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner  E Kharmalki said the incident took place at a mining site near the village of Dienshalalu, Sarkari and Rymbai. “Six people were killed. They were digging a hole when the mechanical system broke and the digging tool broke the carrier, so they fell into the pit and died, ”he said.

District Magistrate  E Kharmalki said 5 of the 6 victims had been identified and their families had been informed.

Five of the six dead have been identified, most of them from neighboring Assam, the official said.

In 2014, the National Green Tribunal issued an order banning mining in the state, specifically banning mining through the rat-hole technique. Despite the ban, he is said not to have been involved in illegal mining activities.

Police have registered a case against the employer and an investigation is underway.

In December 2018, 15 people were killed in a similar mining accident.