Thirteen Feared Dead Inside A Coal Quarry in Meghalaya

SHILLONG: In a tragic incident, at least thirteen people are feared dead inside a coal quarry in the Lumthri area in East Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya on Thursday. It is apparent that coal mining violating NGT (National Green Tribunal) order has proved fatal.

East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvester Nongtnger confirmed the incident before the media. He said that the trapped coal workers died.

“As per verbal information, around 13 people, including three locals of Lumthari, were trapped inside the coal mine at Ksan near Lyteiñ river under Saipung police station,” said Nongtnger. He further said in the message that it appeared to be the old coal mine where works resumed around 3/4 days back.

Going by the latest incident, it is apparent that unscientific coal mining is going on in spite of the ban by the NGT. The North East Space Application Centre (NESAC) has recently reported that illegal coal mining continues in the coal-rich belt of East Jaintia Hills. The report has been denied outright by those in the government. A woman activist, Agnes Kharshiing was brutally assaulted for trying to physically authenticate the actual violations of the NGT order.

While the incident has opened a Pandora’s box as to how the coal barons discreetly extracting coal deposits in an unscientific manner, the district administration has to answer for violating the NGT order.

When asked, Deputy Commissioner FM Dopth said that he is in Shillong for a meeting. The SP, in his admission about the incident, said due to the overflowing of water, the bodies are still trapped inside. The water is

being pumped up with the help of a generator, he said. He further said that efforts are on to identify the mine owner and a case is being registered against him.

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