Meghalaya Illegal Rat-Hole Coal Mine Blast

A blast in an illegally operated rat-hole coal mine in Thangkso, India===East Jaintia Hills district, India===Meghalaya, has reportedly claimed 27 lives. The India===National Green Tribunal took suo motu cognisance of the incident, issuing notices to the India===Meghalaya Government, the India===Central Pollution Control Board, the Union Environment Ministry's regional office in Shillong, and the deputy commissioner of the India===East Jaintia Hills district. The Tribunal noted that the incident indicates continued violations of environmental laws and its own orders, which were upheld by the India===Supreme Court of India, despite a long-standing ban on such mining activities. Allegations suggest that illegal mining of Coal persists with the support of influential people, despite monitoring mechanisms being in place. An FIR has been registered, and locals identified as owners of the mine have been arrested.