Meghalaya Coal Mine Blast Toll Rises to 30; High Court Seeks Report in 10 Days

• The death toll from the February 5 coal mine blast in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district has climbed to 30 after two more injured miners died at Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) in Assam.
• The two victims, Ramchandra Baishnab and Nimaruddin, were residents of Katigorah in Assam's Cachar district.
• The Meghalaya government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the blast at the illegally run coal mine in the remote Thangsku area of Mynsngat village.
• The Assam government announced an ex gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the families of each deceased victim from the state; at least eight laborers from Cachar district have died.
• The Meghalaya High Court expressed strong concern over the failure to control illegal rat-hole mining, warning of accountability and a potential independent agency probe, and directed authorities to submit a detailed report within ten days.