Meghalaya coal mine blast: 2 more die in Assam hospital; toll rises to 30
Silchar (Assam) (PTI): The death toll in the coal mine blast in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district has climbed to 30, with two more persons succumbing to injuries at a hospital here, an official said on Tuesday.
Both were residents of Katigorah in Assam’s Cachar district and were undergoing treatment at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH).
ALSO READ: 12 women among 26 arrested for road blockade, stone-pelting in UP's Hathras
“Two persons injured in the coal mine blast died at the SMCH hospital on Monday night. They have been identified as Ramchandra Baishnab and Nimaruddin,” the health department official said.
Altogether, nine injured miners were admitted to the SMCH after the February 5 incident.
The blast had occurred at an illegally operated coal mine in the remote Thangsku area of Mynsngat village in adjoining Meghalaya.
The Meghalaya government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident to ascertain the circumstances leading to the blast and fix responsibility.
The Assam government had announced ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each deceased from the state. At least eight labourers from the state, all from Cachar district, have so far died in the incident.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Three militants held for 'involvement' in bomb explosion in Manipur
Imphal (PTI): Three militants belonging to a proscribed outfit were arrested for their alleged involvement in a bomb explosion in Manipur's Imphal West district three days ago, police said on Tuesday.
They were apprehended from Imphal East and West districts, the police statement said.
"Following an investigation into a case of bomb explosion at Lilong Chajing area in Imphal West district, three active cadres of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (Apunba) were arrested from different locations of Imphal West and Imphal East districts during the last two days," it said.
A pistol and ammunition were recovered from their possession, the police said.
Security forces have been conducting search operations in Manipur since May 2023, when the ethnic strife broke out between Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups.
So far, more than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic violence.
