India coal mine blast leaves 18 dead, others feared trapped

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.

An explosion at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya, a northeastern state in India, killed at least 18 people on Thursday. Eight others were injured in the incident, which occurred in the East Jaintia Hills district. The mine was identified as an illegal "rathole mine," a type of deep, narrow shaft banned in Meghalaya since 2014 due to safety and environmental concerns. Rescue operations were underway to determine if more miners were trapped, but were halted at sundown. Authorities are awaiting disaster management personnel to resume the search on Friday morning.