Man presumed dead in Meghalaya illegal mine blast reappears after funeral

Smoke billows after an explosion (right image) at an illegal coal mine in the East Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya, on February 5, 2026. (Image: PTI, Reuters)

• Labourer presumed dead in Meghalaya mine blast returns home alive
• Mistaken identity sparks probe into mine disaster victim remains
• NGT probes illegal mining, environmental breaches in tragedy

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In a startling turn of events, a labourer earlier listed among the 31 victims of a coal mine explosion in Meghalaya has returned home alive, days after his cremation rites were conducted.

Shyambabu Sinha, who lives under Ratabari police station in Assam’s Sribhumi district, walked back into his village three days after he had been presumed dead in the February 5 explosion at an illegal rat-hole coal mine in East Jaintia Hills.

The blast, believed to have been triggered by dynamite inside the unauthorised pit in the remote Thangsku area of Mynsngat village, had initially been described as one of the most severe mining disasters in recent years.

His unexpected reappearance has shocked relatives and authorities alike, while raising troubling questions about the identity of the remains that were handed over to his family. Reports citing sources said the body was released after standard identification procedures, which are now being closely examined. The development has sparked scrutiny over whether confusion, inadequate documentation, or more serious lapses at the site led to the apparent error.

Four days after the explosion, on February 9, Meghalaya’s government halted search and rescue efforts. Assessment teams had determined that no additional survivors were likely to be found inside the damaged shafts. The decision effectively closed active recovery operations, even as families mourned those declared lost.

The case has since drawn the attention of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which took suo-motu cognisance of a media report about the explosion. In an order dated February 6, a Bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel observed, "As per the news item, this is one of the biggest mining-related tragedies since July 2021. The news item also highlights that two years earlier, NGT had banned the hazardous mining method."

The tribunal pointed out that activists had previously alleged that despite the tribunal’s comprehensive prohibition on rat-hole coal extraction and transportation in April 2014 — a ban later upheld by the Supreme Court — unlawful operations continued with alleged backing from politically connected and influential individuals.

"The matter indicates violations and non-compliance of NGT's orders, including violations of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, Indian Forest Act and Environment Protection Act," the bench said, further noting that it has also raised "substantial issues relating to compliance with the environmental norms".

The NGT has named the State’s Chief Secretary, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Shillong regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the deputy commissioner of East Jaintia Hills as respondents in the matter.

"Issue notice to the above respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing (on May 19)," the order stated.

What began as a fatal industrial accident is now unfolding into a complex investigation involving questions of illegal mining, explosive handling, and an extraordinary case of mistaken identity that has left a community stunned.