SHILLONG, Feb 20: The deadly coal mines of Meghalaya have claimed as many as 30 lives in the last five years, all involving cases of illegal mining.
As per an RTI reply provided by the Directorate of Mineral Resources, 30 deaths have been reported in coal mining related incidents in the state in the last 5 years.
The Ksan mine tragedy occurred in East Jaintia Hills in 2018, claiming 15 lives.
In 2021, a mine accident occurred at Rymbai in the same district in which six people died while another mine tragedy at Umpleng claimed six more lives.
Last year, two miners died at Nengchigen in West Khasi Hills and another life was lost at Urak in the same district.
The RTI report added that apart from these deaths, a mine mishap occurred at Mengol Rongsa A’we in South Garo Hills in 2012, but the number of casualties is not known till date.
