India coal mine blast leaves 18 dead, others feared trapped

Al JazeeraEN 2 min read 100% complete by Stephen QuillenFebruary 5, 2026 at 10:22 PM

AI Summary

short article 2 min

An explosion at an illegal coal mine in the East Jaintia Hills district of northeastern India killed at least 18 people on Thursday, February 5, 2026. Eight others were injured, and an unknown number of workers may still be trapped in the "rat-hole mine." Authorities believe dynamite triggered the blast, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause and the total number of workers present. Rescue operations were temporarily halted at sundown and are set to resume with state and federal support. The chief minister of Meghalaya, where the mine is located, has pledged accountability, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced compensation for the families of the deceased.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

X 30% Indian 40% The Indian Express 40% Manish Kumar 60% Vikash Kumar 60% Conrad Sangma 70% Narendra Modi 70% Meghalaya ×280% India 80% East Jainta Hills ×390%

Keywords

coal mine explosion 100% illegal mining 80% mine disaster 70% east jaintia hills 60% rat-hole mine 60% worker safety 50% mining accident 50% meghalaya 40%