Shillong, Feb 10: The death toll in the illegal coal mine blast in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district rose to 28 after one more injured worker died during treatment at a hospital in Shillong, police said.
Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said the deceased was identified as Raju Tamang, who had been undergoing treatment at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIMS). The explosion occurred last week at an illegally operated coal mine in the remote Thangsku area of Mynsngat village.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced that the state government would order a judicial inquiry to ascertain the circumstances leading to the blast and to fix responsibility.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills district appeared before the Meghalaya High Court in connection with the incident. Expressing serious concern over the explosion and repeated cases of illegal coal mining, the High Court sought a detailed report on steps taken by authorities to curb such activities.
Officials said eight more injured persons were still undergoing treatment at different hospitals.
