Overview
- Authorities in East Jaintia Hills confirmed two more deaths, taking fatalities from the February 5 dynamite explosion to 32, with victims treated in Shillong and Guwahati named in local reports.
- The Meghalaya High Court took suo motu cognisance, ordered a comprehensive report within 10 days on enforcement against illegal mining, and warned of a possible independent probe, with the next hearing listed for February 19.
- The National Green Tribunal issued notices to the Meghalaya Chief Secretary, CPCB, the Environment Ministry’s Shillong regional office and the district deputy commissioner, seeking affidavits before a May 19 hearing.
- Police widened the probe, arresting two additional alleged mine owners, including Process Dkhar alias Prakash, while two earlier suspects were sent to judicial custody and FIRs were lodged under criminal, mining and explosives laws.
- District enforcement drives reported more than 4,800 metric tonnes of suspected illegal coal seized and multiple FIRs filed, while the Embassy of Nepal sought information on its citizens possibly affected.