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PM Modi Announces Relief for Meghalaya Coal Mine Blast Victims' Families

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex-gratia payments from the PMNRF for the victims of a tragic coal mine explosion in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district. The families of the 16 deceased will receive Rs 2 lakh each, while the injured will get Rs 50,000. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident at the suspected illegal mine, vowing to fix accountability. Rescue operations are ongoing with NDRF teams, as several labourers are still feared trapped inside the mine.

Key Points: PM Modi Announces Ex-Gratia for Meghalaya Mine Blast Kin

  • Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for each deceased's kin
  • Rs 50,000 for each injured
  • State govt orders comprehensive inquiry
  • NDRF teams conduct rescue ops
2 min read

PM announces ex-gratia for victim's kin in Meghalaya coal mine blast

PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for families of 16 killed in Meghalaya coal mine blast. CM Sangma orders inquiry. NDRF on rescue duty.

"Pained by the mishap in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. - Prime Minister's Office"

New Delhi, February 5

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced ex-gratia worth Rs 2 lakh each for the families of 16 victims who lost their lives in the tragic Meghalaya coal mine incident.

Those who have been injured in the incident in the Thangskai area of East Jaintia Hills district will be given ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 each.

The ex-gratia will be provided from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

"Pained by the mishap in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000," the PMO posted on X.

Earlier, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that the state government has ordered an inquiry into the coal mine incident that claimed 16 lives.

He said that accountability will be fixed for the incident at a suspected illegal coal mine, and those responsible will face strict legal action.

"Profoundly saddened by the tragic coal mine incident in East Jaintia Hills. My deepest sympathies are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this unfortunate tragedy. The Government of Meghalaya has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. Accountability will be fixed, and those responsible will face strict legal action. There will be no compromise when it comes to the safety of lives," Sangma posted on X.

"In this moment of sorrow, the State stands in solidarity with all those affected," he added.

Three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been moved to carry out rescue operations after at least 16 people were killed and several labourers were feared trapped in an explosion at a suspected illegal coal mine in a village on Thursday, officials said.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Vikas Kumar said that 16 bodies have recovered so far.

"The incident took place in the Thangsku (Thangskai) area on Thursday. Several labourers trapped inside the coal mine following an explosion. SDRF, police, and local administration engaged in search and rescue operations. So far, 16 bodies have been recovered. One person received burn injuries," SP Kumar said.

Several people are still trapped inside the coal mine.

More details are awaited.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This is so heartbreaking. These are poor labourers trying to earn a living. The state government's inquiry must be swift and transparent. We need accountability, not just compensation after the fact. Safety regulations must be enforced strictly.
A
Aman W
Immediate relief is important, and PM's announcement is a step. But the real issue is the existence of illegal mines. Why do they keep operating? Local administration and police need to be more vigilant. Jai Hind.
S
Sarah B
A respectful criticism: The compensation amounts seem standard, but have they kept pace with inflation? A life's value is immeasurable, but the financial support for families who have lost their breadwinner should be reviewed periodically to be truly meaningful.
K
Karthik V
Hope the injured recover soon. The NDRF teams are doing commendable work in difficult conditions. Our prayers are with the rescue teams and those still trapped. The state govt must ensure such illegal operations are shut down for good.
N
Nisha Z
This is not the first such incident in Meghalaya. It's a failure of governance at multiple levels. Compensation is a temporary fix. We need permanent solutions, proper rehabilitation for workers, and strict action against the mine owners. Very sad.

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