The recovery of 27 bodies following an explosion in an illegal rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district has renewed focus on the dangers of the banned mining practice and triggered a fresh crackdown by local authorities.

The blast occurred on Thursday at a mine in Thangkso village. Officials said search operations were still ongoing, as the exact number of workers inside the mine at the time of the explosion remains unclear.

What happened at the mine

According to officials, the explosion took place deep inside a rat-hole mine, where workers operate in extremely narrow tunnels. Rescue teams faced severe challenges due to water-filled shafts, poor visibility, and the depth of the central pit, which extends over 300 feet underground.

Divers involved in recovery operations described the conditions as hazardous, with water levels reaching nearly 100 feet inside the mine.

What is rat-hole mining

Rat-hole mining is a primitive method of coal extraction common in Meghalaya, where coal seams are thin. Workers descend through narrow vertical or horizontal tunnels using ropes or bamboo ladders and manually extract coal with basic tools.

Despite being outlawed by the National Green Tribunal in 2014 and reaffirmed in 2015, the practice continues across parts of the Northeast.

Why the practice persists

Authorities acknowledge that economic hardship and limited employment opportunities force many workers to take up illegal mining. The unregulated nature of these mines, coupled with weak enforcement and alleged local-level collusion, has allowed the practice to continue despite repeated fatalities.

Meghalaya police records indicate hundreds of violations of the NGT ban since it came into force.

Calls for accountability

Following the incident, district officials ordered intensified checks and action against illegal mines. Environmental experts and rights groups have once again urged strict enforcement of the ban, rehabilitation of affected workers, and the creation of safer livelihood alternatives.

The tragedy has underlined the human cost of illegal mining and the urgent need for sustained political and administrative action.