India: 23 Dead in Illegal Coal Mine Explosion

At least 23 people have died in an explosion at an illegal coal mine in the state of Meghalaya, India. The new death toll was announced by a local official.

According to Manish Kumar, four more bodies were found. Rescue operations will continue. Initially, 18 people were killed on the spot, while one injured person died in hospital.

Rat-hole mines are vertical shafts on hillsides with narrow tunnels. Their operation has been banned by a federal court since 2014 due to water source pollution and risks to lives, but the practice continues, especially in the East Jaintia Hills region.

Police chief Vikas Kumar stated that the explosion was likely caused by dynamite detonation.