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The number of fatalities following a massive explosion at an illegal “rat-hole” coal mine in Meghalaya has risen to 23.
Rescue teams recovered four additional bodies on Friday, while another victim passed away in the hospital from injuries sustained during Thursday’s blast.
Local authorities believe the explosion was triggered by a dynamite blast within the narrow, unregulated tunnels.
Despite a 2014 ban by India’s federal environment court due to safety and pollution concerns, these dangerous vertical shafts remain a common method for coal extraction in the region.
Senior official Manish Kumar confirmed that search operations are set to continue as teams navigate the hazardous site.
