At least 16 people were killed and more were feared trapped after an explosion at an unauthorised coal mine in India's northeastern state of Meghalaya, an official said, the latest in a series of similar incidents in the region in recent years, APA reports citing Reuters.
The blast took place at around 10 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) in a 'rat-hole' mine - named because their tunnels are just big enough for workers to get through - in the East Jaintia Hills district, the district's deputy commissioner Manish Kumar told Reuters.
Rat-hole mines were once used extensively in India's northeastern states, but were banned in 2014 because of the large number of fatalities and the damage caused to the environment.
Local police were on the scene and have been conducting rescue operations, but attempts to reach the miners have been suspended due to a lack of equipment, the deputy commissioner said. Eight people were also injured in the incident, he added.
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