Khliehriat, Feb 6: The death toll in the mine blasts incident in the Mynsyngat-Thangsko area in East Jaintia Hills increased to 25 from 18 on Friday.
Rescue and search operations were stopped in the evening and will resume on Saturday morning. NDRF and BSF have also joined hands with the state disaster management teams. Teams from the army and the airforce are on standby.
Meanwhile, two coal miners, Forme Chyrmang (36) and Shamehi War (42) were arrested on Friday. The High Court of Meghalaya on Thursday directed the government to immediately arrest the coal miners who were running illegal activities in the district.
Eighteen people were killed in dynamite blasts in the illegal mine on Thursday and eight were injured.
Ministers Lahkmen Rymbui (MLA from Amlarem constituency) and Wailadmiki Shylla (MLA from Jowai constituency), and Sutnga MLA Santa Mary Shylla visited the incident site on Friday. The illegal mine is located in Elaka Sutnga.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is yet to visit the incident site. On Friday, he posted on social media photos of him attending the pre-budget consultation at Ward’s Lake and inaugurating a multilevel car facility near the Additional State Secretariat.
Officials from neighbouring Cachar and Hailakandi in Assam were also there.
