Nine Nepali nationals were killed and seven others injured in an explosion at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills on February 5, the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi confirmed in a statement on February 14. The embassy says it is monitoring survivors who are receiving treatment at a local hospital and has urged swift action to help the victims’ families.
The mission has been coordinating with India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the East Jaintia Hills district administration and Meghalaya Police to facilitate medical care and to initiate compensation procedures for those affected. Embassy officials emphasize the need for prompt coordination to ensure families receive statutory benefits.
The embassy noted the mine was operating illegally, in breach of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on rat-hole mining in Meghalaya. It warned that unauthorised sites complicate rescue operations and create legal barriers that delay or prevent access to compensation and other statutory entitlements after fatal accidents.
In a public advisory, the Embassy of Nepal urged citizens to exercise extreme caution when seeking work in high-risk sectors. It advised prospective workers to verify employer credentials and legal compliance before accepting jobs-especially those offered through intermediaries-so as to avoid hazardous, unregulated operations.
The tragedy has again highlighted long-standing concerns about illegal mining in Meghalaya’s coal belt, where unregulated sites — described in reports as “death traps” — continue to operate despite judicial oversight and regulatory bans. Families in need of assistance have been asked to contact the Embassy helpline at 9205195035.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/02/15/nepal-pushes-for-accountability/
Category: MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2026-02-15 03:24:00
